Former chief judge of Adamawa State who served for 20 years, Justice Bamari Bansi (rtd) as well as Justice Adamu Buba Mubi (rtd) and Justice Tokunboh Olouti (rtd) were yet to get their entitlements years after retirement, Adamawa State chief judge, Ishaya Kida Banu disclosed yesterday.

Banu who made the disclosure during the 2015/2016 Legal Year in Yola noted that the judiciary in the state has suffered long years of neglect as a result of which it nearly went comatose.

“It is on record for instance that Hon Justice Tokunboh Oluoti retired on 3rd of March 2008, Hon. Justice Adamu Buba Mubi retired on the 10th of December 2009, and Hon. Justice B.S. Bansi (OFR) who was a chief judge of the state for almost 20 years and who retired on 15th of July 2011 are yet to be paid their entitlements,” Banu disclosed.

He noted that even though approval was given for the establishment of four judicial divisions at Numan, Gombi, Ganye and Michika local governments of the state, in order to bring justice nearer to the people, they were unable to take off due to financial constraints.

Banu added that as a result of the myriads of problems dogging the judicial arm, the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) embarked on a nationwide strike in an effort to realise financial   independence/ autonomy of the judiciary as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.

He noted that the incursion of Boko Haram insurgency has seriously affected the administration of justice especially in northern parts of the state as all the courts in the area have been forced to close down although he noted that with the return of peace, the courts are bouncing back to life.

The chief judge urged the state governor, Sen. Muhammadu Umaru Jibrilla Bindow to as a matter of   urgency, implement the memorandum of understanding entered between it and JUSUN so as to facilitate the effective dispensation of justice. He added that if the MoU is fully implemented, the judiciary will be able to carry out all its functions without recourse for assistance from the state.