Justice Binta Zubairu of the Court of Appeal on Sunday in Zaria said judges are not the cause of delay in the dis­pensation of justice as erro­neously believed by some Nigerians.

Zubairu made this known on the sidelines of a recep­tion organised in her honour in Zaria on recent elevation as a Justice of the Court.

Judges are being wrongly accused of delay in dispens­ing justice by the public.

“Judges work as a team with the prosecution, law­yers and others. Speedy dispensation of justice re­quires the prompt efforts of the police, prosecution, as­sembling of exhibits by law­yers and presenting them correctly before the judges in court in accordance with the laws.

“Most times the judges or magistrates are ready to ad­judicate but the prosecution would not be ready or the lawyers will come with one excuse or the other.

“These are facts that are glaring in courts but be­cause we the judges can’t voice out their frustration, all the blames are shifted and heaped on us,” she said.

She said most times it takes the police longer than usual to conclude investiga­tion in a simple case.

Zubairu commended the Zazzau Emirate for identi­fying and rejoicing with her over her promotion and ap­pointment.

According to her, her elevation to the Court of Appeal is for the joy of the entire Zazzau Emirate and humanity.

She expressed gratitude to the Almighty God for making her the first female in the Zazzau Emirate to be elevated to the rank of Jus­tice of the Court of Appeal.

“As a child, it was not my wish to be a magistrate or a judge. I wanted to be a prin­cipal of a school.

“I wanted to be a princi­pal because as a kid I desired to see that all children go to school to be educated.

“I have not in my wildest imagination, thought I will be a judge but destiny took me to the judiciary,’” she said.

Earlier, the Emir of Zaz­zau, Malam Ahmad Bamal­li said, “The emirate was proud of Justice Zubairu as the first female from the emirate to attain that height in the judiciary.”

The emir enjoined the cel­ebrant to be good ambassa­dor of the emirate by exhib­iting high sense of honesty and professionalism in her endeavour.

Also speaking, the Chair­man of the Presidential Task Force Committee on Prison Decongestion and former FCT Chief Judge, Justice Ishaq Bello, urged young judges to imbibe the culture of hard work and dedication to enable them excel.

Bello, while congratulat­ing Justice Zubairu, advised her to follow the ethics of the profession for effective delivery.