The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Ilorin branch, on Monday reiterated the call for independence of the judiciary to ensure entrenchment of democracy and rule of law in the country.

The Chairman, NBA, IIorin branch, Mobolaji Ojibara, made the call in Ilorin at a news conference to herald the start of the 2014 Law Week celebration of the association.

The NBA celebration is themed, A Centenary of Legal Practice in Nigeria, 1914-2014: Legacies and Lessons for the next Century.

Mr. Ojibara said that without complete autonomy of the judiciary in the 36 states and the FCT as well as at the federal level, the benefits of a democratic government could not impact positively on the people.

He urged other states in the country to emulate Nasarawa and Bayelsa and grant full financial autonomy to their judiciary to make them efficient.

"Survival of the state judiciary should not be dependent on their relationship with another arm of government, which is the executive," the NBA chairman said.

Mr. Ojibara urged the Kwara Government to consider granting the judiciary autonomy and make it self-accounting.

"We urge the governor to take the bold step by securing the independence of the state judiciary through granting of financial autonomy and a full self-accounting status," he said.

The chairman lauded the efforts of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Mariam Aloma-Mukhtar, in sanitising the judiciary and ridding it of corruption.

He said that the bar would continue to complement the CJN's efforts and punish erring lawyers and ensure the system was free of corruption.

Mr. Ojibara also commended the Kwara Government for approval of the employment of research assistants to support the judges in their work.

(NAN)