In a bid to ensure consistency and fairness in the administration of justice, the Nasarawa State Judiciary has issued a total prohibition on the issuance of bank orders by lower courts across the state.
A circular signed by Yahaya Yakubu Shafa, Executive Secretary, directed to all magistrates and the Chief Registrar, states that, effective immediately, all lower courts are barred from granting orders affecting bank accounts, including but not limited to:
- Orders freezing bank accounts
- Orders directing banks to pay out funds
- Orders compelling banks to provide financial information
According to the circular, all applications for bank-related orders must now be made exclusively to the High Court. However, the directive clarifies that this prohibition does not affect the powers of lower courts to issue other types of orders necessary for the administration of justice.
The directive, issued by the Hon. Chief Judge and Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission, comes in response to growing concerns over the abuse of judicial authority in financial matters. The Judiciary emphasized that non-compliance will be treated as gross misconduct, punishable by dismissal.
Magistrates and court personnel have been urged to strictly comply with the new directive and ensure its immediate implementation.