The Chief Judge of Taraba State, Justice Joel Agya, has formally raised serious concerns over the security of judicial officers in the state following the abrupt withdrawal of their police orderlies, warning that the action poses a direct threat to the administration of justice and the personal safety of judges.
Justice Agya voiced the judiciary’s alarm during a courtesy visit by the Commissioner of Police, Taraba State Command, Mrs. Betty Isokpan, at his office in Jalingo.
The Chief Judge recalled that while President Bola Tinubu had indeed issued an order for the withdrawal of police personnel attached to Very Important Persons VIPs across the country, a critical exemption was made. He stated that the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters had explicitly excluded judges and governors from this directive, recognizing their statutory entitlement to protection under the law.
Justice Agya expressed profound regret that, contrary to this exemption, all police orderlies attached to judicial officers in Taraba State were withdrawn on December 8, 2025, without prior notice or consultation.
Outlining the severe ramifications of this action, Justice Agya presented a multi-faceted threat emphasized that judges presiding over highly sensitive cases including criminal trials, political disputes, terrorism matters, and corruption casesare now left exposed to significant personal risk. These cases often involve powerful and potentially vindictive individuals who may seek to intimidate or harm the presiding judge.
Adding that the CJ argued that true judicial independence is not merely the absence of interference in judgments but also encompasses the protection of judges from external intimidation and fear. The removal of their security detail, he stated, directly undermines this foundational principle, as a judge operating under fear cannot be truly independent or impartial.
Justice Agya made a direct and urgent plea for intervention, calling for “constructive engagement and swift action to address this pressing concern.”
