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Chief Judge of Bayelsa state, Justice Matilda Abrakassa Ayemieye has charged practicing Lawyers in the state to maintain ethical standards of the legal profession and accord respect to Judges’ and others on the bench.
He gave the charge Tuesday during a programme tagged, ‘Bar/Bench forum’ held as part of activities to kick-start the the 2024 Legal year of the state’s judiciary at the state High Court complex, Yenagoa, the state capital.
Justice Ayemieye who also tasked legal practitioners on professional growth said over concentration of Bayelsa-born lawyers practicing in the state has link to the lack of legal practitioners of the state origin federal judicial bodies.
“The members of the Bench must be respected by members of the Bar. We need each other in our professional and career growth.
He said: “The habit put up by some lawyers in the cause of their practice when they appear before judges of the Bayelsa state judiciary is quite disrespectful. Imagine a lawyer telling a judge right in the court that he would appeal his ruling.
“That’s not our concern as judges, you don’t need to say it to our hearing after our judgements. Go and file your appeal and stop complaining in our courts. Judges must be respected, Magistrates and Customary Courts Chairmen must all be respected too”.
Also speaking, the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr Biriyai Dambo, SAN lauded the State Judiciary for the onerous task of dispensing justice, pledging Government’s continued synergy with the judiciary with a view to footing all outstanding judgement debts owed.
Dambo noted that the state governor, Senator Douye Diri was passionate about the independence of the judiciary for the general good of the state and citizens, noting that the governor was committed to giving priority to issues concerning welfare of judicial officers.
In their separate remarks, Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa branch, Barr. Somina Johnbull, former state Commissioner and member of the state judicial service commission, Chief Fedude Zimughan and Chairperson of the state’s chapter of the Federation of International Women Lawyers(FIDA), Barr. Deme Pamosoo applauded the state judiciary on the nitch carved out for the judiciary by judicial officers in the state in their dispensation of justice.
Others who made remarks were representatives of the state Commissioner of Police, CP Alonyenu Francis Idu and the state command of the Nigerian Correctional centre.
Meanwhile, an itinerary of the 2024 legal year made available to newsmen by the Public Relations officer of the state Judiciary, Mr Julius Nyananyo states that the programme which began Tuesday 17th September is expected to continue through Friday 20th, September 2024.
The statement added that there would be a medical outreach and jail delivery at the Okaka Correctional centre, Yenagoa on Wednesday 18th and Thursday 19th September 2024, while a
thanksgiving service will hold at the St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Yenagoa 20th September 2024 followed by valedictory court session in the Chief Judge’s court same day.
