By Daniel Tyokua
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello said Nigeria’s democracy is being deepened by the judiciary.
He stated this in his remarks at the maiden edition of the Court of Appeal Legal year and Justices’ Retreat in Abuja.
Bello explained that since the return to democratic rule, the judiciary has been doing well by living up to its responsibilities and adjudicated many landmark cases that have further enriched the jurisprudence.
The minister described the legal Year as a preparedness and determination of the Court to discharge its responsibilities to the country.
He pledged his administration’s continuous support to the judiciary in the discharge of its responsibilities.
Bello disclosed that as the country is being confronted with various social, economic and political problems the judiciary should stand in the gap to build a strong and virile nation.
“There is however no doubt that the men and women that sit on the bench will always, rise up to the occasion and ensure that we remain on the path of growth and development.
“The past year has been quite challenging for us in the FCT, and indeed the country, due to the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic which tasked us in many unprecedented ways.
“Containing the pandemic in the FCT involved the active participation of virtually all arms of the government alongside several government and non-government organizations.
“It must however be mentioned that the role of the judiciary especially with the use of the mobile court system ensured the enforcement of pandemic rules and guaranteed that we were not overwhelmed”.
The minister appreciated the President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Monica Bolna’an Dongban-Mensem for the first Court Legal Year.
