Niger State Attorney General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice, Nasiru Mu’azu, has confirmed that the judiciary under the current administration of Governor Muhammad Umaru Bago has been granted partial independence when compared to what obtains elsewhere.

He made the revelation during an interview with The Guardian in Minna.

The commissioner stated that under the current administration in the state, the judiciary is doing much better, adding that, though even in the immediate past administration, the arm of government fared better than others across the federation.

Mu’azu said: “In my capacity then as Chief Registrar of the High Court, I am in a position to attest to it, but, I think, if the present understanding is sustained and improves slightly, it would even be better than what is now called partial autonomy, as it is now. It is not bad for Niger State judiciary.”

The legal luminary also revealed that not too long, Governor Bago renewed of official vehicles for 12 High Court judges, including the Grand Khadi, with only exception to the two High Court judges whose their official vehicles were not due for renewal, adding  that a brand new Land Cruiser sport utility vans (SUVs) had been purchased for the judges.

The Attorney-General hinted that recently, the governor ordered that the emoluments of judicial officers be paid directly by the pay judiciary, adding that the Commissioner for Finance was directed to ensure compliance.

“The governor insisted that Ministry of Finance should not be responsible for payment of judicial staff salaries,” he explained.

Mu’azu noted that the move is a welcome development that would solve a lot of problems.

On the training and re-training of judicial workers, the commissioner said that the training had been remarkable, adding that, recently, electronic programme was conducted for magistrates, while Sharia Court judges would undergo theirs anytime soon.

He lauded the Chief Judge, Justice Halima Ibrahim Abdulmalik, for restoring and reforming the state judiciary.

“The CJ has been up and doing to ensure that the staff get training periodically. I am impressed with her foresight,” Mu’azu addd.