The Taraba State Judiciary (TSJ), under the leadership of Justice Joel Agya, Chief Judge of the state yesterday presented the draft (procedure) Rules 2025 for the enforcement and implementation and administration of family court in Taraba.
Justice Agya made the presentation at the Validation Programme of the draft rules for Family Court establishment in Taraba held in Jalingo.
He said that the family court had jurisdiction over family related matters including divorce, gender based violence, child abuse, adoption maintenance among others.
The chief judge noted that perpetrators of gender based violence were usually people close to the victims such as relatives, school teachers, religious leaders, employers of labour or persons acting in official capacities.
According to him, this crimes are perpetriated in the home, in public places, public transport, work place, schools among others.
He said that upon his establishment of the family court, he requested for the assistance of the National Judiciary Institute (NJI) in drafting the Taraba State Family Court Rules.
Agya added that such would engender the smooth and efficient operation of the court.
He recalled that the establishment of Taraba State Family Court was in response to the advocacy by Mrs Agyin Kefas, wife of the governor of Taraba.
He commended Gov Agbu Kefas for his support to the judiciary, which led to its landmark transformation under his leadership.
He also thanked the NJI for graciously carrying out the draft rules for the operation of the family court.
In her remark, Mrs Kefas thanked the judiciary for responding quickly to her demand by the establishing the family court.
She said that the court would address the growing menace of child abuse, rape and discrimination against women and children.
Also speaking, Chief Gibson Kataps, Secretary to the Government of the State (SGS), advocated death sentences for perpatriators of rape in the state.
Kataps, who noted that women were more in number than men, said that no rapist had any justification for his action.
He also commended Justice Agya for the milestone achievements in the judiciary under his leadership.
Justice Salisu Abdullahi, Administrator of NJI said that the development of the rules was guided by best practices, competitive jurisprudence and extensive consultations.
Represented by Mr Yusuf Kayode, Chief Studies Fellow at the NJI, Abdullah said that the rules of the family court were not mere procedural instruments, rather they were instruments of justice.
He said that the rules were designed to ensure that proceedings concerning children and families were expeditious, child sensitive, rehabilitative and protective of the dignity of all parties involved.
The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Justice Agya, upon the request by the Taraba First Lady, designated High Court 9 as family court and appointed Justice Clara Kataps as the pioneer judge of the court. (NAN)