Ex-Grand Kadi harps on judicial autonomy

Former Grand Khadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Ilorin, Justice Idris Abdullahi Haroon has again clamoured for full financial independence (autonomy) of the judiciary.

Haroun spoke while responding questions on "Playing Host" a Radio Kwara personality interview programme.

The Jurist lamented that there is undue financial strangulation of the judiciary which according to him, had always lead to frequent industrial actions by judicial workers.

He therefore suggested that funds meant for the judiciary which is the third tier of government should go directly to that sector since it is a national problem and expressed the hope that the present administration would address the issue without further delay.

Answering another question, Haroon disclosed that the administration of justice requires that judges who are at area courts and adjudicate solely on Islamic law should be responsible to and administered by Sharia Court of Appeal not only administratively but intellectually.

The retired jurist explained further that a judge cannot administer on what he has no deep or has little knowledge about stressing that when one highlights corrective points on a judgement, some of the judges at the lower courts may not have access to such guidelines but in a situation where such matter was brought before an appeal court , such matter would be well adjudicated upon by more learned or competent judges.

He therefore summed up his point by stating that any aspect of adjudication in any area court that has to do with Islamic law should be supervised by an appellate court which is the Sharia Court of Appeal in line with the provision of the constitution.

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