Garowe (PP News) — The Justice and Legislative Select Committee of Puntland Parliament today held a meeting with the Senior Puntland Judiciary Committee.
The Select Committee listened to reports about how Puntland judiciary is coping with backlog of cases due the Covid-19 health emergency and how Puntland courts are ensuring access to justice for citizens.
Of particular interest to the Justice Select Committee were complaints about recent court rulings. Puntland justice system is reeling from accusations of partiality.
Mrs Hiis Ismail Abdi had accused Sheikh Adan Mohamed, the Chairman of Puntland Appeals Court, of bias.
“Sheikh Adan is a cousin of the lady who destroyed the fences and a shed in a plot of land we legally bought. The Appeals Court upheld the first court’s ruling but the woman who claims ownership of my land appealed to the supreme court. The Appeals Court asked the Supreme Court for the case to heard again at the Appeals Court where a new judge appointed by Sheikh Adan ruled the case for a man who was not involved in the first place. The First Court dealt with a criminal case for property damages but the Appeals Court downgraded it to a civil case” said Mrs Hiis.
The case prompted Justice Select Committee to inquire about how courts are handling cases that grabbed the public attention.
Members of the Senior Judiciary Committee pledged to deal with complaints effectively and fairly.
© Puntland Post, 2020
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