Judges in Nasarawa State have been advised to first put the fear of God in their dealings, and as well respect their oath of duties while giving verdict to cases before them.

The Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Ahmed Ubangari gave the advise while addressing  Area Court Judges, magistrates, sole judges and litigants at the end of the Lafia Appeal Court section in Lafia.

Justice Ubangari also enjoined the judges to be prayerful and always seek God’s guidance for justice, knowing that someday, everyone will stand before God where all mankind would be judged.

The Chief Judge who urged the judges to behave well by avoiding unethical attitudes that could tarnish the image of the judiciary, pleaded with judges complaining of the dearth of cases in their courts to seat up and ensure justice, fairness and equity, adding that “a judge is always the court, not the cases. If you don’t deliver good judgments, cases will not come and people will run away from your court.”

Justice Ubangari who expressed concern over the irrational decisions of some judges who he said were not being guided by the laws, said the state judiciary would soon take drastic measures against judges with the habit of converting civil cases to criminal cases for their personal gains.

He stressed that, no judge should claim monopoly of knowledge especially in cases that are complicated and difficult,  adding that those converting their cases indiscriminately would have themselves to blame.

The Chief Judge who also said, the judiciary  in the state was too liberal, noted  “we will start to break the Carmel’s back in the hard way so that everyone in the system will take his job seriously.”

He warned judges in the habit of collecting money before issuing divorce certificates or negotiating before delivering judgments or bail to desist, as it would do them no good.
Justice Ubangari who described the act as  illegal and disgraceful said, “we would be on watch out and anyone caught would have himself to blame.”

He then commended the completion of the Lafia Appeal Court section, saying that the judiciary in the state would not relent in delivering justice to the people