Yakubu Busari
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Jos Branch Chairman, Barr. Izang Aware has called for the digitalization of the proceedings of our courts especially now that we have a new High Court Complex to employ Information Technology in court proceedings toward increasing effectiveness and efficiency and reducing substantially the time spent on a particular case.
Izang stated this on the occasion of the new legal year of the High Court of Plateau State on the 15TH day of September, 2023 in Jos.
He called for deliberate training and retraining of judicial officers and Lawyers alike for result-oriented court digitalization programs for building the judiciary.
According to him, on this issue of digitalization of our courts, the Nigerian Bar Association is grateful to the public and private development center for graciously choosing Plateau State as one of its pilot schemes.
” The Centre is currently in the process of digitalizing court proceedings in the realm of criminal law. Very soon, we will experience digital proceedings in criminal matters from arraignment to judgment courtesy of this Centre.
One thing I know is that the Centre will not be here all through, it has its time to leave as he appealed to the Government to deliberately partner with this Centre in order to sustain this laudable project”, he stated.
Izang Aware welcomes everyone present while praying that the ceremony will engrave landmark memories of positive history in our minds.
He gave thanks to God Almighty for keeping us alive and healthy to witness this unique ceremony. We must give thanks for the many good things the LORD has done for us as a people on the Plateau and particularly in the Judiciary.
Izang , “We must thank God for the health of our Judges and for the grace He had given to them to do their work. We must thank God for His faithfulness in keeping the Lawyers safe despite the harsh environment in which we practice.
This harsh environment includes but is not limited to the economic, security, social, and warp perseverance of Lawyers. Nevertheless, the LORD has been faithful. This ceremony, no doubt, is a solemn moment which affords both Judges and Lawyers the opportunity to do personal self-examination on how they handled cases that were presented before them “,he added .
Aware Stressed that, “This is no doubt so because a time comes when every person must give account.
The New Legal Year ceremony presents opportunities for both the Lawyers and Judges to review strategies and set up new agenda for the emerging Legal Year. I implore every Lawyer and Judge to evolve a new case management strategy of global repute. To achieve this, we cannot shy away from the postulation that functional learning is an everyday affair, he noted.
He commended the poem of Alexander Pope, an 18th century English poetry giant: A little learning is a dangerous thing; Drink deep or taste not the Pierian spring.
There shallow draughts intoxicate the brain, And drinking largely sobers us again.
Fired at first sight with what the Muse imparts, In fearless youth we tempt the heights of Arts; While from the bounded level of our mind Short views we take, nor see lengths behind, But, more advanced, behold with strange surprise New distant scenes of endless science rise! So please pleased at first the towering Alps we try, Mount o’er the vales, and seem to tread the sky; The eternal snows appear already past, And the first clouds and mountains seem the last; But those attained, we tremble to survey
The growing labours of the lengthened way; The increasing prospect tires our wandering eyes, Hills peep o’er hills, and Alps on Alps arise.
. It is imperative to state at this juncture that infrastructure is critical to the work of the judiciary.
Izang, therefore, applauded the Honourable Chief Judge of Plateau State, Honourable Justice David G. Mann for improving the quality of work environment the latest being the commissioning of the Judicial Service Commission new Building Complex just yesterday, the 14th day of September 2023.
Earlier, under the stewardship of His Lordship, Honourable Justice David G. Mann, the High Court in Pankshin, Chief Magistrate’s Court and the Upper Area Court also in Pankshin have witnessed fencing and renovations. Similarly, the Upper Area Court, Kabong, Chief Magistrate’s Court cum Area Court Nassarawa Gwong, Jos as well as the Chief Magistrate’s Court West of Mines, Jos have witnessed renovations.
Lawyers are grateful for these that you have done and urge you to do more for more frontiers are yet be reached. What is more? I have a feeling that if you continue in this strides one of the many projects like the Judicial Service Commission Complex may be named after you for history is kind to heroes and heroines.
I will not end this address without calling on the Executive Governor of Plateau State to particularly look into the issue of security of our dear State. For insecurity is at one of its craziest moments. This has hampered agricultural activities which is the mainstay of the economy of the rural populace and largely of the State and providing food for the urban communities.
Criminal activities such as kidnapping, banditry and attacks on communities, rape and crimes against women, etcetera needs to be met frontally in order to defeat the evils from the society.
The security agents are also implored to raise their game towards defeating those who do not want a peaceful, tranquil, egalitarian and convivial society. Lastly, I congratulate the Chief Judge of Plateau State, Honourable Justice David G.
Mann, Superior Court Judges, Magistrates and Area Court Judges and Legal Practitioners as well as the entire members of the Legal Community on the celebration of the 2023/2024 commencement of the Legal Year.
