Chief Judge says corrupt individuals in Bauchi use religion to promote nefarious acts
Story from Ahmad SAKA, Bauchi
The Chief Judge (CJ) of Bauchi State, Justice Rabi Talatu Umar, has explained that there are now very corrupt people in the state judiciary using religious sentiments to sustain their nefarious activities.
The corrupt people entered into contractual relationships with various companies worth billions of Naira using a forged stamp, letter headed paper of the office of the Chief Registrar without the knowledge of the authority or consent of the Chief Judge.
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Justice Umar stated this on Tuesday while swearing-in Commissioners for Oath from the Sharia Court of Appeal Division of the state judiciary.
Justice Umar said that while efforts were being made to generate revenues into the coffers of the state government, the corrupt elements in the judiciary had their own forms and receipts to deprive the government of revenues.
She said that those perpetrating fraudulent acts were doing so with active connivance, support and encouragement of their godfather who was using religious sentiment to cause disharmony between the High Court and the Sharia Court of Appeal in the state.
In her words: “The truth is that we now have very corrupt people in the judiciary who have their personal forms, receipts and even stamp using their boys to deprive the government of revenue and defraud unsuspecting members of the public.
“What is happing now is a climax of irrevocable standing payment order granted by the then Chief Registrar of the High Court on the 23rd June 2009 (years before I became the Chief Judge) which resulted in the judgment of the Federal High Court against the High Court of Justice of Bauchi State in favour of AMCON in Suit No. FHC/BAU/CS/37/2017 delivered on 8th December 2020 prompting AMCON to garnishee the account of Bauchi State, which matter still lingering in court.
“The staff perpetrating these acts do so with the active connivance, support and encouragement of their godfather who now resorts to using religious sentiment to cause disharmony between the High Court and the Sharia Court of Appeal.
“He is making a frantic effort to undermine the integrity of his own organisation using religious sentiment to deceive the general public to believe in his cause. That will not happen under my watch,” she said.
Justice Umar informed that she had always directed the state Chief Registrar of the High Court, Barrister Emmanuel Danjuma, a Christian, to who the disgruntled elements claimed she had imposed on the Sharia Court of Appeal, to investigate each complaint against their nefarious activities.
She added that her recent directive for investigation was the instances some staff of the High Court entered into a contractual relationship with various companies worth billions of Naira using forged stamps, letter headed paper of the office of the Chief Registrar and forms without neither her nor the Chief Registrar’s knowledge, authority or consent as
“With each complaint against the nefarious activities of these disgruntled elements, I always direct the Chief Registrar to investigate and all the investigation reports are indicting the perpetrators which prompted hatred for the Chief Registrar. Such instigations are directives from me and not out of his own volition.
“The recent directive I gave for the investigation was the instances some staff of the High Court entered into a contractual relationship with various companies worth billions of Naira using a forged stamp, letter headed paper of the office of the Chief Registrar and forms without our knowledge, authority or consent,” she said and gave instances of such fraudulent contractual relationship.
“Some of the contracts included the supply of 52,000 bags of rice at the cost of N438 million, 4,500 laptops at the cost of N2.180 billion,10,000 motorcycles at the cost of 3N.100 billion and 500 Keke Napep (tricycle) at the cost of 5.750 billion.”
The CJ informed that in some instances some staff were investigated and charged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), while some others were investigated and charged to court by the police and subsequently remanded at the correctional service facility.
“All these fraudulent contractual transactions being entered into by these enemies of the judiciary to defraud innocent people are with full support and active connivance of their godfather who is a senior member of the organisation operating behind the scene and share in the proceeds of the fraud.
“It is worrisome that we are fighting to stop these unfortunate activities in the judiciary by putting measures in place to check the menace but the perpetrators are fighting us back using religion.
“My intention is to extend the security documents to the Sharia Court of Appeal so as to carry the Hon. Grand Kadi along to check and stem the tide of this menace.
“It is unfortunate that people of questionable character are using religion cards to sustain and maintain their fraudulent activities,” she pointed out.
The Chief Judge, however, advised the general public to verify any misinformation “and even look at the standing and antecedent of the people dishing out the misinformation, the public shall always verify and ascertain what contribution the peddlers of such rumours have made to the religion they are now using to sustain their nefarious activities and the contribution personally made to the religion to determine who among us is undermining the religion.”
Justice Umar then urged the new Commissioners for Oaths at the Sharia Court of Appeal to shun all forms of corruption, malpractices and unethical behaviour in the discharge of the onerous responsibilities bestowed on them.
She added that with their appointment and swearing-in, the Bauchi State Judiciary has a complete set of Commissioners for Oath, having earlier appointed and sworn in those of the High Court Division.
“This is a new innovation in line with the modern trend as obtainable in most states and jurisdictions to check the menace of corruption and prevent leakage of government revenue,” she said.
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