THE Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has pledged to partner with the FCT High Court in the establishment of a Children and Young Persons’ court in the territory.
FCT minister, Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, who made the pledge to support the establishment of Children and young persons’ court, at a programme marking the 2019/2020 Legal Year of the FCT High Court, said the FCTA would support courts initiatives and innovations designed to ensure that an efficient justice dispensation system was entrenched in FCT.
Bello also pledged his support for the High Court in its desire to make Abuja the centre of arbitration for local and international contracts, adding that the move would be beneficial to the FCT considering the volume and importance of the transactions that occur in the nation’s capital.
The minister commended the FCT judiciary for innovations brought to the FCT court system and processes, especially the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) option which, he said, had helped in settling many land and property disputes which usually proved to be expensive and time-wasting at litigation.
“The Alternative Dispute Resolution approach to resolving matters, which you have often advocated, has helped in settling many disputes in the FCT, especially land and property disagreements which had often proved to be costly and time-wasting had they gone to litigation.
Buhari to police: Arrest ‘yahoo’ criminals, but don’t harass innocent young people
“The innovations you have brought to the FCT court system and processes have encouraged many litigants to choose to have their cases heard in the FCT courts when such matters are sometimes outside your jurisdiction. This clearly demonstrates the level of confidence the general public has in our court processes here in the FCT,” the minister said.
He also used the occasion to assure residents and visitors of the FCT of the determination of the FCT Administration to keep the territory safe, free of criminalities, while stressing that random acts of criminality would not be allowed to define the FCT.
In his remarks, the Chief Judge of the FCT High Court, Justice Ishaq Usman Bello, urged lawyers to cultivate the habit of doing pro bono work of providing legal services to those who cannot afford to pay the fees.
He said lawyers who engaged in pro bono services would be rewarded as he had already introduced a merit award for lawyers who engaged in such selfless service in the FCT.
The chief judge also assured all residents and visitors of the FCT that all cases would be determined according to merit and supported by the law, adding that no political, social, economic and other considerations would influence the outcome of any case.