Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abuja, Ignatius Kaigama, has urged judges in the country to always deliver justice with the fear of God.
He gave the advice while delivering his message at the Federal High Court (FHC)’s 50th anniversary thanksgiving service at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama, Abuja.
Kaigama, who was represented by Christopher Nnubia, judicial vicar of the Catholic Church in Abuja, urged the judges to be committed to discharging justice in the face of challenges.
Kaigama said it was their responsibility to give hope to the hopeless and strengthen the weak in the society.
He said: “It is your responsibility to firm the feeble knees. And as you do that, you need to do that with the fear of God knowing that at the end of the world, we will give account to the divine judge where we will render account of what we have done.
“What will you do that day? Will you say you have rendered justice in the way it should be irrespective of religions you find yourself?
“We will answer before God. So, whatever you are doing, always remember God; always remember the last day when you will render an account.”
He enjoined the judges, who were Catholic Church members, to be good ambassadors of the church.
“As we celebrate this 50th anniversary, I pray the good Lord will bless everyone of you and strengthen you to carry out your duty,” he said.
Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue, while speaking to the newsmen, urged the judges to keep looking up to God.
“God called Solomon and filled him with his wisdom to govern his people and to let people know who God is and the way he had ministered. It is the same thing with them (judges). God called them specifically to ensure the system works and flows.
“Our prayer should be to them that they too can do the right thing, and they have been trying looking at the antecedent of the court
“They have been putting the very best and may God continue to work ahead of them, protect them and above all, grant them with His wisdom so that they will always do the right thing for the citizenry to the glory of God,” he said.
Earlier, FHC Chief Judge John Tsoho, who read the first Bible reading from the book of Isaiah 35:1 to 10, thanked everyone for finding time to attend the service.
The FHC, which was established in 1973, was formerly known as Federal Revenue Court.
It was established by the Federal Revenue Act 1973 (1973 No.13) and began with four judges with a president as its head.
The court was, however, renamed the “Federal High Court” by Section 228 (1) and 230 (2) of the 1979 Constitution.