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Justice Talatu Umar, Chief Judge of Bauchi State
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
Worried by the activities of fraudsters who are using its documents to dupe innocent people, Bauchi State High Court of Justice has reiterated its resolve to prosecute culprits found to be issuing out forged legal forms and other related documents.
The Court also warned that anyone apprehended no matter his/her status will be made to face the wrath of the law explaining that those to be prosecuted are those found to be using the forged documents in their official transactions.
This was disclosed on Wednesday by the Chief Registrar of the Bauchi State High Court of Justice, Barrister Subilim Emmanuel Danjuma in an interview with journalists in his office.
The Chief Registrar also said that the renewed resolve has become necessary in an effort to check the excesses of some misguided people within and outside Courts that indulge in the racketeering, issuance and use of forged legal forms and documents, which, according to him is a flagrant disregard of constituted laws.
Sublim Danjuma further said that the State Judiciary is not unaware of the fact that some of their staff are involved in the illegal act, but that, with the new mechanism put in place through the introduction of new security embossed legal forms and documents, the issuance of the illegal forms and documents will be curtailed to the barest level.
According to him, “With the introduction of our new security embossed legal forms, the illegal act of issuing forged legal forms will be curtailed to the bearest minimum. The full wreath of the law will also come to bear on any person found to be engaged in such act. We will prosecute culprits found guilty to the full extent of the law”.
He added that, “Not only are we limiting our search light on the people issuing these forged documents, but even the people presenting such documents for any official transactions will not be spared. The law will take it’s course”.
He also maintained that staff of the Judiciary found to be involved in such nefarious activities would not only be prosecuted, but would be subjected to administrative disciplinary measures that may warrant suspension or even outright dismissal, in line with administrative provisions.
Sublim Danjuma however cautioned culprits of such illegal behaviour to turn a new leaf, as according to him “it will no longer be business as usual, because we are going after them with the full weight of the law”.
He also stressed that legal forms are not issued on the streets, business centers or homes, but designated courts of law, with only commissioners of Oaths saddled with the responsibility of issuing such forms.
It could be recalled that the Bauchi State High Court of Justice has recently introduced new legal forms that comes with security features in an effort to stop the proliferation of court documents by touts.
