Kwara Magistrates suspend proposed warning strike

The Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Kwara State chapter has suspended the proposed three-day warning strike earlier scheduled to commence on Wednesday.
According to a statement on Thursday, signed by the Chairman of the Association, Magistrate K. A. Yahaya, the strike was suspended following assurances received from the Kwara State Judicial Service Commission that the magistrates’ grievances will be looked into.
The association said it subsequently held an emergency general meeting on July 2, 2014, during which it resolved to suspend the strike pending the outcome of the commission’s intervention.
Noting that it did not commence the strike as erroneously reported in sections of the media, the association stressed that its members have been performing their duties since Wednesday.
The association also denied issuing a press statement or holding a briefing on the issue.
Meanwhile the Kwara State Government has denied media stories on the purported strike.
In a statement, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Kamaldeen Ajibade, described the stories as false and politically-motivated.
Ajibade said: “The State Government unequivocally debunk the publications as not only mischievous and unfounded but also outright falsehood designed by some disgruntled elements to mislead the public on the state of the Judiciary in Kwara State, and also heat up the polity for political reasons.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to state here that the Magistrate Courts in the State are all open and discharging their judicial duties without any let or hindrance. Kwara State is a State of Peace and Harmony and any issue or grievance is being promptly addressed by the Kwara State Government.”