Security Measures: Senate seeks safety of judges, rejects N110bn budget for Judiciary

The Senate on Tuesday called for adequate security measures around Judges and Courts in the country to ensure their safety from spontaneous or premeditated attacks.

The red chamber also frowned on the N110bn budgetary estimates projected for the Judiciary in 2021.

The Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters made the observations when its members engaged the Chief Registrars of all the courts on their 2021 budgetary proposals.

The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the recent attacks visited on the courts in the country by hoodlums were worrisome and condemnable.

He said such spontaneous or premeditated attacks were more or less potential assaults on Judges and Justices which must be nipped in the bud.

He said, “Worthy of note, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, is the unfortunate and unwarranted recent attack and vandalisation of the Court of Appeal archive office in the Lagos Division, as well as the Lagos State High Court Complex, located at Igbosere, which was set ablaze by hoodlums.

“This action is highly condemnable and a clarion call for provision of adequate security mechanisms, for the safety of Judges and the Courts, generally.”

He, however, added that the N110bn earmarked for the arm of government in the coming fiscal year was grossly inadequate to bring about the needed turnaround

“This committee will do all within its legislative powers to ensure that the funding of the Judiciary is improved upon for dispensation of justice in the country efficiently and appropriately, ” he stated.