Yenagoa, Nigeria(TheGavel) – Justice Matilda Ayemieye, the Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, has emphasized the importance of maintaining ethical standards and respecting judicial officers for practicing lawyers in the state.
During the ‘Bar/Bench forum,’ which marked the commencement of the 2024 Legal Year at the state high court in Yenagoa, Justice Ayemieye encouraged legal practitioners to prioritize professional growth. She highlighted the mutual respect that should exist between the bench and the bar, emphasizing the need for lawyers to avoid disrespectful behavior towards judges.
“Members of the bar must respect members of the bench,” Justice Ayemieye stated. “We need each other for our professional and career growth. The disrespectful behavior exhibited by some lawyers in our courts is unacceptable.“
She specifically criticized lawyers who publicly announced their intention to appeal court rulings, deeming it unnecessary and disrespectful. “Judges must be respected, whether they are at the high court, magistrates’ courts, or customary courts,” she affirmed.
The state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Biriyai Dambo, SAN, expressed the government’s support for the judiciary’s efforts in dispensing justice. He pledged the government’s commitment to settling all outstanding judgment debts and ensuring the judiciary’s independence for the overall well-being of the state and its citizens.
Dambo highlighted Governor Douye Diri’s passion for the judiciary’s independence and his dedication to addressing the welfare of judicial officers.
Barr. Somina Johnbull, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yenagoa, praised the Bayelsa State judiciary for its outstanding performance in dispensing justice.
The event was attended by dignitaries, including representatives of the state Commissioner of Police, CP Alonyenu Francis Idu, and the state command of the Nigerian Correctional Service. (NAN)
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