From Timothy Olanrewaju, Maiduguri
Chief Judge of Borno State, Justice Kashim Zannah has warned people against celebrating the emerging peace in Borno State, maintaining that the crisis is not over.
Zannah who delivered an address at the 2017 Ushering-in of the Legal Year, the first in six years, and Valedictory Court Session for two retired High Court judges at the Borno High Court yesterday in Maiduguri said it was not time for celebration but rather reflection. He said it would be a mistake for people to think they can go back to their old ways and live happily in a state that has been wretched by Boko Haram crisis.
“An exclusive society that pushes the weak to the extreme margins, is always susceptible to hateful demagogue,” he warned, adding that it was time people prepared for rebuilding of the people and the troubled society rather than celebration.
“This is a time for reflections, not celebrations. It is time for rolling up our sleeves, not rolling out the drums. It is not over. It cannot be over until it is over for our once proud and self sustaining, but now pauperized brothers. It is not over until several widowed wives regain their charming smiles. It will not be over for anyone, until it is over for the thousands of orphaned children,” Justice Zannah said.
He said the task of rebuilding the society that is resistant to the violence the state went through in the last six years was for all even as he canvased for help for victims. “Our motto should be each one, Help one. Help one person each. Let us admonish ourselves with the mantra: I am not useless, I can help. Help with my wealth, help with my strength, help with my words, help in any way I can,” he counseled.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kaka Shehu Lawan said he was happy to address the gathering being the first in about six years since such event was held. He said insurgency has affected virtually every aspect of life in the state. He recalled the loss of some colleagues including the former commissioner for justice,
Bar Zanna Malam Gana. He said in the midst of insurgency, many lawyers were more interested in their survival than litigation. “That we can hold this event today is another testimony to the fact that Peace has been substantially restored to Borno State,” he said.
He commended the Borno Chief Judge, Justice Kashim Zannah, chief Judge Borno State who he described as a corrupt free judicial officer, leading in use of ICT for operations in the bench. He disclosed that a memo for the review of laws of Borno has been approved by the State Executive Council on February 16. “As you may be aware, by convention, laws are supposed to be reviewed and updated every 10 years but the last time our laws were reviewed and update was in 1994. The review is therefore long overdue,” he added.
NBA Chairman, Baba Kura Kaka urged the chief judge to give an administrative order to forbid lawyers from appearing in courts with improper dressing. He said the NBA has assisted in donating relief to IDPs and also offered free legal service to them. He commended the state for enacting the Civil Procedure, 2017, urging the government to fill existing vacancies in the judiciary