By Ayodele Oni
The Kebbi State Government through the Ministry of Justice has negotiated with parties in some court cases which led to the unfreezing of the State’s 33 bank accounts domiciled in various financial institutions.
The Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Junaidu Bello-Marshall who disclosed this during a ministerial press briefing held in Birnin Kebbi, said eleven parties were involved the the various cases.
The ministerial press briefing was organized by the State Ministry of Information and Culture to showcase achievements of the present administration of Governor Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu in the last eight months.
Bello-Marshall explained that when the present administration came on board, it met several unresolved civil cases whichit led to Garnishee Orders attaching 33 Kebbi State Government’s accounts domiciled with 11 various financial institutions for the satisfaction of the total Judgment Debt plus interests.
“The ministry was facing many challenges on how to resolve these civil cases. However, approval was given by His Excellency and all those cases were re-negotiated and cleared by paying off those debts as ordered by the court.
“At present, no Kebbi State Government account is under any attachment by court order.”
The Commissioner added that the state ministry of justice recorded a total number of 853 criminal cases, motions, bail applications and legal advice within eight months in the state.
“The ministry has recorded a total number of 853 criminal cases, motions, bail applications and legal advice since the inception of this administration.
“The ministry is presently handling 80 appeal cases pending before the Kebbi State High Court of Justice as well as 70 cases at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
“Within the period under review, we have vetted more than 200 case files forwarded for legal advice from the relevant law enforcement agencies, out of which few were terminated for want of evidence and majority were advice to be persecuted.”
Bello-Marshall, said that the ministry initiated the establishment of Justice Sector Reform Team through sponsorship of an Executive Bill assented to by Governor Idris, with a view to improving justice delivery to all in the state.
On executive bill, he said that the ministry in conjunction with the line ministries prepared and presented 18 bills to the State Executive Council for approval, transmission to the State House of Assembly and assented by the Governor.
“The implication is that they became laws of Kebbi state of Nigeria. The said laws are critical to good governance in the state as some of these laws established important Agencies, Commissions and or Bureaux in the state.”
Bello-Marshall also disclosed that the state government had paid off over N1 billion to various schools to settle the examination fees of 169 students whose certificates were seized for inability of the State Government to pay for their fees.
While speaking on the payment of witnesses expenses and appeal cases, the Attorney General said the present administration has continue to give regular approvals for quarterly witness expenses with a view to ensuring that its Chamber, has adequate resources to mobilize witnesses to give testimonies from across the state and beyond without difficulty.
He added that to hasten Justice delivery services in the state, the State Governor, gave approval for the recruitment of new Law Officers to prosecute numerous cases the state have across the country.
“At the inception of this administration, the ministry had 27 Law Officers throughout the state, which were grossly inadequate to prosecute numerous cases at the ministry.”
