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By: Onyinyechi Nwite
NBA Chairman Seeks Funding for Special Court
The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Sagbama Branch, Barr. Ogheneochuko Sampson, has said that adequate funding and infrastructure are essential for the successful operation of proposed special courts to handle kidnapping and banditry cases across Nigeria.
Sampson stated this while speaking with journalists at the State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Yenagoa, where he reacted to the proposal by Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for the establishment of special courts to speed up the prosecution of kidnapping and banditry offences.
He described the proposal as a positive step that should be adopted across the country but questioned whether governments were prepared to provide the resources needed to make the courts effective.
According to him, special courts dedicated to such cases could improve the speed of justice delivery in the same way courts handling election petitions have done over the years.
“The proposed idea for special courts to handle kidnapping and banditry cases is a good development and should be replicated across the federation. However, the challenge is not just creating the courts. Are governments ready to fund them? Are they prepared to employ more judges and provide the necessary infrastructure?” he asked.
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Sampson said efforts to tackle insecurity must go beyond the creation of special courts, adding that governments should be accountable for the use of security funds and address the spread of illegal weapons.
He said questions remained about how criminals gained access to firearms and how security budgets were being utilised.
The NBA chairman also praised the Bayelsa State Government for improvements in judicial infrastructure and access to justice across the state.
He said the relationship between the executive and judiciary in Bayelsa had contributed to progress in justice delivery, noting that investments in court facilities and road projects had improved the working environment for judicial officers.
Sampson stated that Bayelsa now ranks among the leading states in terms of judicial infrastructure, with modern court facilities available in several local government areas.
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He explained that poor infrastructure and security concerns had previously forced some judges to sit in Yenagoa instead of operating from their designated locations.
According to him, ongoing projects, including the Nembe-Brass road, are expected to further improve access to justice, especially for residents of remote communities.
He noted that travelling by water to some areas was costly and posed security risks, adding that improved road networks would make court services more accessible.
Assessing the performance of the state’s judiciary, Sampson gave it an 80 per cent rating and commended judges and judicial workers for their commitment to justice delivery.
He said the justice system in Bayelsa had continued to record progress, describing the relationship between the Bar and the Bench as cordial and productive.
