By Ubong Sampson – Uyo
Chief Judges and heads of Courts in the 36 States of the federation and the FCT have been charged on due diligence in the management of funds allocated to them as they assume financial independence.
A Senior Presidential Assistant on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang gave the charge while delivering a paper on “Observing Caution & Due Diligence Under a Fully Automous Judiciary”, at a two-day Roundtable for Heads of Courts held at the National Judicial Institute in Abuja.
Enang said “under the autonomy regime you are, as the heads of the arm of government, personally responsible and will answer for it. Thus, the need for due diligence as physician will now heal himself.
“Where there appear a lacuna not covered by the Funds Management Laws, or the convention in other arms of Governments in any matter arising in the course of implementation of Financial autonomy please fall back to the practice adopted by the National Judicial Council in funds management process from budget conception, bilaterals with Budget office, inclusion in the Annual Budget as will be laid before the National Assembly, defend before the mandate committees, passage, Assent, release to the account of the Judiciary, syndication to the different Heads of courts by the National Judicial Council headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, advert for procurement.
“Same are the Chief Judges of States expected to do other subject courts and Judicial bodies for thus will you escape from answering questions from Anti-corruption institutions.”
The Akwa Ibom born lawyer who doubles as the Secretary, Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy of States Legislature and States Judiciary, lauded the National Judicial Institute for organizing the two day talkshop
