NAN-H-29
Retirement
By Martha Nuhu
Jos, Sept. 22, 2017 (NAN) The Chief Judge of Plateau , Justice Pius Damulak, on Friday retired from service after 27 years on the bench, calling for adequate and regular funding of the judiciary to ensure optimal efficiency.
Damulak, who spoke at a valedictory session held in his honour, expressed delight at the state of the judiciary.
The retiring chief judge expressed delight at the state of the judiciary, saying the state government’s support and cooperation had enabled him to succeed during his tenure.
Damulak, however, said his achievements were limited by poor funding of the judicial arm.
He also appealed to government to employ more judicial personnel to ameliorate the challenge of dearth of manpower.
In his remarks, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau described the outgoing chief judge as a man of integrity and honour.
Lalong further said that Damulak all through his years in service shunned corruption and other social vices.
“Today, we celebrate and remember the service of a man who has contributed his quota beyond words in ensuring that all through his service as a legal practitioner, judge and head of the judiciary, the process of justice delivery did not fall foul of the law.
“He didn’t allow the law profession that he lived his life for in any way be an object of public ridicule in the face of growing corruption and loss of societal value.
“He was able to achieve this height of integrity and honour because he allowed the fear of God and his zeal to serve humanity to be his watch word.
“The sound judgments, the mentoring, the benevolence and the smiles you put on the faces of litigants and the value you added to the administration of the state judiciary will always be remembered,” he said.
According to Lalong, the retiring chief judge had carved a niche for himself in the annals of the judiciary in the state.
He urged the chief judge to ensure that his successor benefited from his wise counsel and wealth of experience in the course of discharging his responsibilities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Damulak was appointed the state’s chief judge on Jan. 29, 2014. (NAN)
ADY/OSA/OJO
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(Edited by Shittu Obassa/Mufutau Ojo)