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Nearly 28 years after Gombe State’s creation in 1996, the state’s legal system still depends on outdated laws from Bauchi, lamented the Nigerian Bar Association Gombe branch chairman, Benjamin Sati.
Speaking at the 2024/2025 legal year ceremony on Monday, Sati emphasised the dire need for Gombe to establish a modern, codified body of laws.
He stated, “Gombe State lacks a codified body of laws, relying instead on outdated laws from Bauchi State. This situation is untenable, and we urge the government to expedite the compilation and publication of the body of laws.”
Sati further criticised the ongoing use of Bauchi’s 1990 and 1991 laws in Gombe’s courts, noting that Bauchi itself had revised these laws twice.
“Like I did say, we still cite laws of Bauchi State from 1990 to 1991, when the same law has been reviewed two times by Bauchi.
“So perhaps we are citing non-existing laws to buttress our argument in court, which is not good for the judiciary,” Sati added.
Additionally, the NBA chairman highlighted the poor funding of Gombe’s judiciary, stating, “Judiciary funding is inadequate, making it the least funded in the North-East.
“This has caused challenges. We urge the government to increase funding to facilitate seamless operations of the judiciary staff.”
Sati also voiced concerns about the potential relocation of the Gombe division of the Court of Appeal.
He urged the government to prioritise completing accommodations for justices and staff to prevent the court’s possible move to Yobe or Borno States.
“The stability of the Appeal Court in Gombe, the incomplete residences for justices and staff of the Court of Appeal poses a risk of its relocation.
“We appeal for swift completion of its accommodation to secure the court’s presence in the state. As we speak, the court is sitting in Maiduguri. There are moves to relocate the court to either Yobe or Borno States,” Sati added.
In response, the state’s Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Zubair Umar, explained that the government had awarded a contract to produce the laws of Gombe State, with over 60% of the funds already paid.
“The governor has sent an executive bill to the House of Assembly seeking the approval of the House of Assembly. It has to be passed by law. We hope before the middle of the year; I’m not the contractor, but I think it will be ready by then,” Umar stated.
Regarding the Appeal Court’s accommodations, Umar reassured that Gombe would not lose the opportunity for the court to remain in the state.
He added, “We were told they will stay in our temporary accommodations for two years. They said the Court of Appeal headquarters will ensure residences under construction are completed.
“Unfortunately, until today, nothing has been done. If someone says we are not taking care of them (justices), I don’t know what else is expected of us; we have given them accommodations, power supply, and regular water supply.”
Chief Judge of Gombe State, Halima Mohammed, acknowledged the judiciary’s progress over the year, noting, “Within the year under review, the state judiciary recorded landmark achievements.”
She shared statistics, revealing that 616 cases were filed, 555 cases were disposed of, and 781 cases remain pending, underscoring the state’s ongoing commitment to justice delivery.
Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Yahaya commended the judiciary’s achievements, particularly in case resolution.
“Your commitment to justice has been instrumental in maintaining law and order in our dear state,” Yahaya remarked.
He emphasised the necessity of judicial reforms to ensure speedy justice administration and reduce prison congestion.
“A responsive and effective judiciary is essential to addressing the expectations of our people, ensuring fairness, and safeguarding the rule of law,” he added.
To further strengthen the judiciary, the governor announced plans to appoint additional judges and staff, as well as improve the welfare of judicial personnel through promotions, capacity-building programs, and training initiatives.
He also stressed the importance of modernising the judiciary with digital tools, saying, “We have supported the judiciary in implementing innovative tools to enhance efficiency, streamline processes, and speed up the administration of justice.”
