In defence of Abia court registrars
SIR: We write to you in order to lend our voice to the on-going crisis in Abia State Judiciary, especially with regards the suspension of the Court Registrars Association of Nigeria (CRAN) members and the judicial impasse ravaging the state judicial system.
Indeed, we, like may well-meaning Nigerians and members of our legal profession watch with great concern the unfolding imbroglio that has enmeshed the state and all the dramatis personae involved. Having read The Justice Observatory Journal, published by Access to Justice in their July 2004 edition, we are further acquainted with the facts on the ground, and wish to use this medium to appeal to the National Judicial Council, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the Governor of Abia State and other stakeholders, to intervene in this unsavoury matter and bring a lasting resolution to this crisis.
The CRAN officials that have been on suspension for over one year now, are victims of the Abia State Judicial Service Commission which only acted in the best interest of the state and in upholding the ideals and tenets of equity, fairness and justice, which are also the hallmark of our noble profession. The common man and indeed every human needs to believe in system in which they can get justice as well as bare their minds on whatever issues bothering them, hence the action of these court officials. With their fate undecided and hanging in the balance, these people are mostly the breadwinners in their respective families. One can only imagine what these poor families and their dependants are going through now with the economic situation and the high cost of living in Nigeria today.
It is quite unfortunate that the Chief Judge of Abia State, the man in the eye of the storm cannot do the honourable thing by resigning, though we are aware of the fact that in Nigeria, no one in public office wishes to leave quietly even when the storm is raging, but would in fact hold on to power with all the strength they can muster, thinking they have all the arsenal to calm the storm until something eventually gives. In this case, one wonders who will eventually give way, is it court officials who stand their ground and do not want to withdraw their case before the court, or the judge who will eventually say, he is throwing in the towel, or even Governor Uzor Kalu whose decision is still being awaited and not yet forthcoming? Is there really hope in sight?
These are questions that need to be answered, and real soon. We cannot but agree with the Honourable Attorney General, Chief Awa Kalu, that indeed only time will tell but we also hope that when the time comes, which cannot be too soon for the victims of the JSC (Abia State) decision, we would see that justice indeed has been clearly served and the sanctity of the rule of law preserved, not only in restoring calm to Abia State Judiciary but in Nigeria as a whole.
We pray that something positive will be done.
Titi Lana (Mrs.),
Lagos
