By Abdullahi Muhammad
Abuja
Minister of the Federal Capita Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has eulogised the outgoing President of the FCT Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Moses Bello, for the able way he piloted the aff airs of the apex customary court during his 26 years on the saddle.
The minister related this yesterday, during the valedictory session held in honour of the outgoing president.
Represented at the occasion by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Chinyeaka Ohaa, he said: “… in the 26 years of your presidency of this court you left indelible footprints in the judicial sands of time.
Like a guiding light, all customary law practitioners would ever look at your wise judicial pronouncements as beacons as they navigate the waters of customary law and jurisprudence.
” The minister noted that the FCT Customary Court of Appeal was established as a Superior Court of Record pursuant to Decree No. 30 of 1991 and enshrined in Section 265 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended.
According to him, the court was charged with the mandate to exercise appellate and supervisory jurisdiction over issues of customary law and Chieftaincy matters.
He consequently commended the court for discharging these functions creditably.
While thanking the retiring Justice for his contributions towards making the FCT administration’s legal institution what it is today Malam Bello pledged to extend the same hand of fellowship and good working relations that existed between FCTA and the outgoing president to the next leadership of the court.
Speaking earlier, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Malam Abubakar Malami described the celebrant as a man who had impacted the country in a profound manner.
He therefore, called on lawyers, judges and justices to use the occasion to reflect on the life and wide range of experience of the retiring justice to the country’s jurisprudence.
