MEET THE NEW ACTING CHIEF JUDGE OF TARABA STATE

History was made on the

6th day of April,2023 in Taraba State as His Excellency, Governor Dickson Darius Ishaku swore in the Acting Chief Judge, Honourable Justice Joel Filibus Agya at the Exco Hall of the Taraba State Government House, Jalingo, Taraba State; an occasion that had the presence of the Deputy Governor, friends and well wishers who came from far and near to felicitate with His Lordship.

The Governor stated clearly that there should be no vacuum in government as he called on the newly sworn in Acting Chief Judge to use his position in ensuring that there is speedy dispensation of Justice in the State.

The man Justice Filibus Agya, a brilliant, witty, charismatic, openly honest and unflinchingly humane is nothing but an asset to Taraba State Judiciary and the entire nation at large. Known for his hard work and speedy dispensation of cases, the judiciary is but blessed at this point in time. Born on the 22nd day of November, 1960 in Wukari Local Government Area of Taraba State,Joel Filibus Agya had his elementary education at Ebenezer Primary School, Wukari, between 1968 and 1973 where he obtained his First School Leaving Certi attended St Paul Catholic Secondary School, Wukari, Taraba State from 1973 to 1978 from where he proceeded to College of Preliminary Studies (CPS) Yola. He thereafter went to the prestigious Ahmadu Bello, Zaria where he obtained his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) (Hons). In 1983, he enrolled at the Nigerian Law School Lagos and was called to the Bar as a Barrister, Solicitor and Advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria

Joel Filibus Agya began his career in the Legal Profession in the Attorney General's Chambers, Ministry of Justice, Benin, Edo State where he did his Youth Service from 1984 to 1985. From 1985 to 1990, he was appointed a State Counsel in the Ministry of Justice in the defunct Gongola State now Adamawa State. He left the Ministry in 1990 to set up his own Law Firm known as J.F Agya and Co where he was the Principal/Consultant and his Chambers was indeed a force to reckon with as at that times and he remained in private practice till 2002.

His sojourn to the Bench began in 2002 where he was appointed a High Court Judge of Taraba State upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council and he was sworn in by the then Governor of the State. In Taraba State, it remains an undisputed fact that Justice Agya is a very hard-working and sound Judge. There is no doubt as to that the quality of and depth of reasoning always apparent in his judgments which has never gone unnoticed especially at the Court of Appeal Yola. Appealing against the judgment of Justice Joel Agya is like the proverbial camel going through the eyes of a needle as he is painstakingly thorough both in conducting his case as well as His Judgements. We equally commend him so much for his unremitting devotion to duty.

By today's swearing in, the Jalingo Bar, expects a lot from him. There is a need for radical transformation and institutional changes in the Judiciary. Appointments to the Bench, both lower and higher bench should be looked into and merit should be the ultimate consideration.The need for more Judicial Divisions of High Courts been established should be looked into. Not forgetting the plight of Magistrates in the State. The welfare of Magistrates should be given utmost priority as their take home pay is nothing to write home about. Given the situation they face currently vis a vis the work they do, we commend their efforts as we urge My Lord to liaise with the State Government to ensure that the Magistrates in Taraba State are not only adequately remunerated but also mobile in doing their work. More lower Courts should be built as the ones in the State capital is not enough. The idea of Area Court Judges sitting with members who are not lawyers should be completely obliterated. Most of the members know little or nothing about the law as their role is just to sign judgments written by the Judges. We have more but we will leave it at this point hoping that the Exco of the Bar will interact with my His Lordship over time.

CREDIT: TARABA LAWYER