Bauchi Governor Mohammed's Contributions gigantic step towards revival of Sharia Legal System in our dear state -- Says Registrar

From Usman Shehu Bauchi

Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal has Commended the state Ministry of Information and Communication for organizing the Ministerial press briefing which provided  golden opportunity to every MDA to inform the general public of it's achievements and by extension the achievements of His Excellency, Governor Bala Mohammed from 2019 - 2024 on whose mandate every MDA Operations.

This statements was made by the Registrar of the Sharia Court of Appeal Ishaq Magaji,Esq when Presenting the achievements of the Sharia Court of Appeal that was made possible through the dynamic and progressive approach of Governor Bala Mohammed who's administration's style of "My Bauchi Agenda", rymes with the idear of the founding fathers of the state at the 2024 Ministerial Press briefing held at the State Secretariat complex Bauchi Friday.

The Registrar explained that, the Bauchi State Sharia Court presently has Ten Honourable Khadis, including the Honourable Grand Khadi as the Head of the Court, and  recommendation for appointment of  additional five Khadis has been made by the National Judicial Council, Abuja for Governor Bala Mohammed's approval and subsequent swearing into Office. Saying as soon as  His Excellency blessed the recommendation,the number of the Honourable Khadis will be increased to Fifteen.

He said the Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal, by virtue of Section 277 of the 1999 Constitution ( as amended) has appellate jurisdiction in Civil proceedings involving Islamic Personal Status. " The Court entertains appeal Cases arising from any Upper Sharia Courts of Bauchi State. Which it's jurisdiction covers all over the State. As such, it holds it's appeal sessions in Bauchi, Azare, Misau and Ningi, depending on availability of funds and convenience of the Honourable Khadis".he said.

The Registrar said administratively, the Chief Registrar is the head of the administration and four Deputy Chief Registrars,that includes DCR Administration, DCR Appeals, DCR Sharia and Inspectorate and DCR Process.

Adding that the Bauchi Sharia Court of Appeal, also have Six Divisional Inspectorate Offices in Bauchi, Azare,Misau, Ningi, Toro and Gamawa with about 27 Upper Sharia Courts and 108 Lower Sharia Court Judges having about 793 supportng Staff.

Showcasing further the achievements of the Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal under the good governance of Senator Bala Mohammed from 2019 to date that changes the narratives of the Sharia Appeal Court to complete with it's Counterparts across the globe was the allocation of a befitting site for construction of new Sharia Court of Appeal Complex that will serve as Permanent site for the Honourable Court, the governor also approved the employment of One hundred and twenty essential/ critical Staff to promote effective service delivery and reduce the problem faced as a result of retirement and death Staff, Renovation of Five additional Chambers for the new Khadis and Renovation of additional Court Hall for Sharia Court of Appeal headquarters to meet the requirements of the National Judicial Council for recommendation of appointment of additional Kadis.

Other achievements of Governor Bala Mohammed's administration in the Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal are the Renovation of Four Chambers for Kadis of the Sharia Court of Appeal headquarters, Appointment of Substantive Grand Khadi for Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal in November 2021, Appointment of Four additional Khadis for Sharia Court of Appeal in 2021, allocation of new brand Toyota Jeep Land Cruiser 2022 Model to His Lordship the Honourable Grand Khadi for his official assignment, allocation of Four new brand official vehicles to the newly sworn in Honourable Khadis in 2021 and appointment   of Chief Registrar and three additional Deputy Chief Registrars and 3 directors in the year 2020.

Governor Bala Mohammed's administration also sponsored the Hon.Grand Khadi and his Deputy to International Conference in the year 2020, allocated Government quarters to the Hon.Grand Khadi, sponsored Hon. Grand Khadi, Hon. Khadis and some Staff to National Workshops organized by the National Judicial Institute Abuja and upgrading of 18 Lower Sharia Court Judges to Upper Sharia Court Judges and Promotion of 370 Staff of Sharia Court of Appeal from different caders.

The Registrar said, " The Hon. Khadis of, Courts have been working tirelessly to ensure that they discharge their duties well, forinstance during the first quarter of this year covering from 1st January -- 31st Match, 2024 about 113 appeal Cases have been handled by the Honourable Court out of which 74 appeal Cases have been disposed leaving 39 Cases carried forward to second quarter, in 2020 from 1st January--31st December 2022, 334 cases were handled 244 have been disposed, from 1st January -- 31st December 2023 about 477 Cases were handled 281 have been disposed judgement delivered. From the above record, it could be seen that the performance of the Honourable Khadis of the Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal is highly increasing every year. This will not be unconnected with the motivation and improved condition of service enjoyed by the Honourable Court from His Excellency  Governor Bala Mohammed's administration". He said.

He recalled that the Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal was created in 1976 and since then, has been operating in temporary site for more than forty five years, but with the assumption of office as Executive Governor of Bauchi State in 2019 Senator Bala Mohammed turned around the fortune of the Bauchi State Sharia Court of Appeal to Match with it's Counterparts across the country in all aspects of development and advancement as showcased above.