State should own judicial institutes if Nigeria operates true federalism -Wike
Rivers State Governor , Nyesom Wike, has advocated the need for state government to have their own a judicial institute that trains judges who will apply the laws, and preside over matters that affect the state and business around it.
Wike who spoke in Port Harcourt, on Friday, at the inauguration of Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute (JMOJI) said that if Nigeria actually operates a true federal system there is nothing wrong with states having such institution.
Already , the governor, who is a Life Bencher has approved the release of N500 million as take-off grant for JMOJI whose the inauguration was performed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola.
Also inaugurated was the Federal Judicial Service Commission, South-South liaison office in Port Harcourt.
The Governor said; “Actually, if Nigeria is operating a true federal system, there is nothing wrong for States having their own judicial institute that will train judges who, of course, apply the laws, preside over matters that affects the state and business around here.
“But we thank God today that the federal government through the CJN has approved it. What we are doing is to complement the efforts of NJI.
“We are not taking over the functions of NJI. We are only complementing, so that our own judges will be ahead of other States.”
Wike also informed that the Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute would be willing to accommodate other judges and magistrates that would be referred to it by NJI and train them free of charge.
“We can also allow them free of charge to come for training here in order to reduce the financial implication of sending most of the judges in the South-South to go to Abuja”, he stated.
Governor Wike pointed out that availability of money is important for the institute to start off its operations immediately after the inauguration.
“I have made my budget presentation and it was not included. I’ve told the Commissioner of Finance, now that the budget has not been approved, make sure it is included in the 2023 budget.
“But to start off for now until next year budget will be released, we are making a grant to them of N500 million so that the institute can start immediately and so that we can have the full benefit ”
He observed that the National Judicial Institute (NJI), which is saddled with the responsibility of training judges and magistrate yearly has the challenge of carrying capacity.
He said this means that not every judge and magistrate billed for the continuous training exercise will be lucky for admission in any current year of such request.
He explained that that the Justice Mary Odili Judicial Institute has come to fill the gap, so that judges and magistrates can regularly access training and education opportunities in Nigeria.
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