Chief Judge raises alarm over withdrawal of police orderlies
The Chief Judge of Taraba State, Justice Joel Agya, has raised serious concerns over what he described as the sudden withdrawal of police orderlies attached to judges in the state, warning that the move poses grave security risks to the judiciary.
Justice Agya expressed his concerns on Tuesday while hosting the Taraba State Commissioner of Police, Betty Isokpan, during a courtesy visit in Jalingo.
He recalled that although President Bola Tinubu had earlier ordered the nationwide withdrawal of police guards from Very Important Persons (VIPs), the Police Force Headquarters had exempted judges and governors due to the sensitive nature of their duties.
The Chief Judge, however, said that despite this exemption, police orderlies attached to judicial officers across the state were withdrawn on December 8 without any prior notice.
According to him, the development threatens the personal safety of judges, especially those handling sensitive criminal cases.
This is a direct threat to judicial security and independence. Without protection, courtrooms can become unsafe, and proceedings may be disrupted,” he said.
Responding, the Commissioner of Police, Betty Isokpan, denied that court orderlies had been withdrawn. She explained that only personal police escorts attached to VIPs were affected by the directive of the Inspector-General of Police.
She said officers assigned to court duties and those posted at judges’ residences were not withdrawn.
