Tinubu, Akpabio, CJN, AGF and RoLAC strive for justice for all

Nigerian leaders on Wednesday called for the succession of an effective justice sector that would ensure quality and speedy administration of justice in the country.

Leaders who spoke at the opening of a two-day National Summit on Justice include President Bola Tinubu, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice. Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN and representatives of the European Union, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and others.

The event is organized in collaboration with the European Union-funded RoLAC II program of the International IDEA.

Declaring the summit open, Tinubu, represented by the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shetima, reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the justice system in Nigeria not only works but also meets the aspirations of the people.

He said that ever since his government came on board, it has been working hand-in-hand with the judiciary to remove the identified problems in the sector.

While stating that the key challenge is how to deal with the allegation that the justice sector is unresponsive, he appealed to leaders from other branches of government to join his government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, as soon as he assumed office, he took steps to harmonize the retirement age of judicial officers and made the welfare of the judiciary a priority.

In addition to declaring that funding for the judiciary has been doubled by 100%, the President announced that he recently approved a substantial improvement in judges’ salaries, which is pending before the National Assembly.

The President, who noted that the judiciary has made some commendable achievements, especially with the Child Rights Act and the Correctional Service Reform, however, emphasized the need for an effective justice system that would provide justice for all.

He specifically charged leaders in the justice sector to seek new directions and “find solutions to the problems facing the sector.”

He also challenged the summit participants to come up with policies that meet the needs of all citizens, now and in the future, adding that there must be a concerted effort to build public confidence in the sector.

While demanding performance from the sector, to provide a fair and equitable system for all, he assured that he will not interfere with the judiciary, adding that he will continue to work with the bar to ensure that Nigerians can enjoy the dividend of democracy. .

Also speaking, Akpabio noted that the summit is not only a forum for discussion but also a call to action. He added that experts’ recommendations must be translated into effective policies that will address not only current inefficiencies but also future challenges.

“I will not be telling the truth when I say that we at the National Assembly are unaware of the delays and backlogs plaguing our courts, which not only deny timely justice but also undermine confidence in our justice system,” he said. he.

According to him, these delays harm the most vulnerable in society and create an environment where justice is seen as inaccessible and inefficient.

The Senate President then called for urgent reforms in the approach to summary proceedings in civil cases. “Currently, these appeals often cause unnecessary delays, prolong court proceedings and burden our courts. As has happened in criminal case law during the enactment of the Criminal Justice Act 2015, we propose that all appeals in civil cases will only be heard after the substantive case has been concluded.

“This change will speed up judicial processes, reduce the backlog and ensure that trials are not unnecessarily prolonged by interim appeals,” he added.

Another area that requires urgent reform, according to Akpabio, is the need to obtain the consent of the Attorney General before executing sentences. He noted that the requirement often acts as a bottleneck, delaying justice and undermining the autonomy of the justice system.

In that regard, lawmakers propose replacing the requirement for attorney general consent with a mandatory reporting system.

He said: “Upon receipt of a judgment against the government, the relevant authorities will immediately inform the Attorney General in writing.

After notification, the Attorney General has a certain period, for example thirty days, to respond. The response may include an appeal or the case being dealt with directly. This timeline ensures quick action and avoids unnecessary delays in the administration of justice.

“If there is no response from the Attorney General within this period, the judgment will be automatically enforced. This measure is crucial to avoid stagnation and ensure that judgments are respected and executed in a timely manner. In cases where the ruling comes from a final court, there is no possibility of appeal.

“Therefore, the attorney general’s response would be primarily focused on a settlement. This approach ensures that the government acts responsibly as a litigant and respects the decisions of our highest court in the land.”

He asserted that such reforms promote confidence in the legal system and improve the overall efficiency of legal proceedings involving the government.

Another area where he sought reform is the abuse of ex parte orders in political cases by judges. He said that to curb this, it is imperative that the National Judicial Council (NJC) exercise strict supervision and impose decisive penalties on judges who abuse their authority in this way.

“We further propose that the NJC establish clear and detailed standards for issuing ex parte orders, accompanied by a defined set of sanctions for violations. These sanctions must be strict enough to deter future abuses

“We recommend that the NJC conduct regular audits and reviews of ex parte orders issued by judges to ensure compliance with established standards. This proactive approach will help identify patterns of abuse early and implement corrective action quickly.

“In addition to punitive measures, we also emphasize the importance of continued training and education for judges on the ethical and responsible use of judicial discretion in issuing ex parte orders,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Olukayode Ariwoola, in his remarks, lamented that justice is still a distant reality for most Nigerians, and has therefore called for a critical look at the legal framework with a view to implementing necessary reforms.

Meanwhile, Ariwoola urged that the judiciary must leverage technological innovation to tackle issues of corruption, inefficiency and undue influence.

The CJN said the judiciary has achieved an important milestone under his watch.

Also speaking, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, said the justice sector under his watch will continue to push for reciprocity in the formation and implementation of national justice policies.

According to him, the policy seeks to improve the mechanisms for fair and speedy administration of justice; detention and correctional services; restorative justice; alternative dispute resolution (ADR) – developing Nigeria into an arbitration center on the continent; trade and economic activities; compliance with treaty obligations; synergy and cooperation within the justice sector; and independence of the judiciary; among other things.

“Regarding the focus on strengthening the independence and well-being of the judiciary, it should be recalled that one of the key points of this government’s Renewed Hope Agenda is to promote judicial reforms to ensure sustainable socio-economic growth and investment achieved, facilitated by the rule of law, and to address the challenges that hinder legal development in our country.

“An important theme that has been added to the National Judicial Policy is Justice for Children. This is in line with our commitments under various international, regional and national instruments on the protection of children, in accordance with the Guiding Principles on the Best Interests and Welfare of the Child. The idea is to undertake deliberate and strategic interventions to deal with children who come into contact with the law,” he added.

Also, National Program Manager RoLAC II, International IDEA, Danladi Plang, noted that quality reforms would attract much-needed foreign direct investment to grow the economy.

According to him, investors would not want to come to a country where their money is tied up. “When you go to court, they ask someone to pay money to the court until the case is decided. We have cases that have lasted for ten years. No investor would want to come to such a country.

“Improving the efficiency of the legal system is therefore not only important for commercial cases, but also for criminals. We have seen that many people have been incarcerated for a long time because their cases have not been heard.”