The administration of Islamic judicial system might have come under a serious threat in Kogi State due to governments refusal to pay the statutory allowances of judges of the Sharia Court of Appeal in Lokoja.An investigation conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja revealed that unlike some of their counterparts in the state high court, the Khadis of the appellate court had been carrying out their duties without official residence.It was further revealed that the judges were also being owed arrears of transport allowances running into several millions of naira. Some judges in the state high court were also affected.NAN gathered that the affected judicial officers are those who got transferred to the state at creation in 1991 and others appointed since 1999. Others are those appointed by incumbent Governor Ibrahim Idris between 2003 and 2010.The attitude of the state government to Sharia judicial system is already becoming a source of concern among the muslim community in the state and other stakeholders.NAN reported that the state government action was in clear breach of Section 84, sub sections 3and 7 of the 199 constitution which states that the salaries of all judicial officers of superior courts shall be the responsibility of the Federal Government while the payment of their allowances and benefits shall be the responsibility of the state governments.The National Judicial Council (NJC) had also in a circular dated Dec. 22, 2003 and addressed to all heads of courts stated that where a state government was unable to provide free official quarters and cars for the judges, it becomes the responsibility of such state government to monetise the allowances.Investigation, however, revealed that Kogi State government has not been fulfilling the statutory responsibility to the judges of Sharia Court of Appeal in the state since 1991.Due to persistent pressure, the state government had a change of mind and accepted to commence the payment of the transport and housing allowances to the Khadis with effect from June, 2003.Consequent upon this, the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris gave approval for the payment of the outstanding arrears and monthly payment of the allowances on December 8, 2008.When contacted, the state Attorney-general and Commissioner for justice, Mr Joe Abrahams who spoke through the Permanent Secretary in his office, Mr Raphael Bello referred NAN to the Registrar of the Sharia Court of Appeal who he said was more competent to comment on the matter.The Registrar of the Sharia Court of Appeal, Mr Abdulsalam Shuaibu when contacted neither deny or confirm the development, explaining that issues bordering on judges welfare were not for public consumption.He said that the state Judicial Service Commission under the state Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah was on top of the situation, saying that judges in the state were free to channel their feelings through the body.
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