Stakeholders in the administration of justice have described as a welcome development the proposed establishment of Magistrate courts in Kogi State.
These they expressed during a public hearing on a law for the establishment of magistrate courts, appointment of magistrates and other purposes connected with the administration of justice organised by the house committee on judiciary and justice in lokoja.
Chairman of the house committee on judiciary and justice, Cosmas Atabor said it was expedient to make positive contribution on the draft bill as stakeholders so as to make the administration of justice better in the state.
He acknowledged the synergy between the judiciary and legislature on the bill even though the bill was being sponsored by himself and the member representing Omala State Constituency.
The Chief Registrar of the Kogi State High Court, Barrister Bamidele Aina said the draft bill when passed into law would ensure professionalism of magistracy and bring all magistrate laws under one legislation.
A journalist, Friday Ogungbemi, said ambiguity in the draft bill should be corrected nothing that in law there is no room for ambiguity as laws were written in simplest forms.
Barrister Muhammed Tanko said the establishment of magistrate courts in the state would make justice accessible to litigants.
On his part the chairman, Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, lokoja branch, Barrister Sam Owoyemi argued that the appointment of a magistrate should be put at five years post call working experience as well as increase the age of retirement from sixty to sixty five.
The house committee on justice and judiciary also conducted a public hearing on a bill for a law to repeal and reenact the kogi state procurement 2014.
Meanwhile the committee stepped down a bill for a law on produce.
The committee said the bill had some areas that needed to be redrafted.