Akpabio warns judges against abuse of ex parte order

Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday called on judges to stop the abuse of ex parte orders, especially in political cases.

Akpabio said this in a speech titled “Repositioning the Judicial System, Constitutional, Legal and Operational Reforms for Access and Efficiency” at the National Summit on Justice in Abuja.

He said it was imperative that the National Judicial Council (NJC) exercise strict supervision to curb the misuse of ex parte order.

“We recommend swift and decisive punishment for errant judges found to be involved in this abuse.

“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 people from 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,” he said.

He said the proactive approach would help identify patterns of abuse early and implement corrective measures quickly.

He also emphasized the importance of continued training and education for judges on the ethical and responsible use of judicial discretion in issuing ex parte orders

Akpabio also called for a reform of the approach to summary judgment in civil cases, saying current appeals often cause unnecessary delays, prolong trials and increase the burden on the courts.

“As has been done in criminal case law during the enactment of the Criminal Justice Act in 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 court processes, reduce the backlog and ensure that trials are not unnecessarily prolonged by interim appeals.

“Another area that urgently requires reform is the process of obtaining consent from the Attorney General before executing sentences.

“This requirement often acts as a bottleneck, delaying justice and undermining the autonomy of our justice system.

“We propose to amend this requirement to allow for faster execution of sentences and thereby increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our justice system,” he said.

Akpabio said these types of reforms promote confidence in the justice system and improve the overall efficiency of legal proceedings involving government.

He said the National Assembly’s Committee on Constitutional Amendments and the Committee on Electoral Law Amendments were working to ensure that the transformative reforms to the legal system were seamlessly integrated into the pending amendments.

“This integration will not only strengthen our Constitution and electoral framework, but also ensure that justice, both in letter and spirit, becomes more achievable for every Nigerian.

“The National Assembly is oblivious to the delays and backlogs plaguing the courts, adding that these issues cause justice to be seen as inaccessible and inefficient,” Akpabio said.

He said the National Assembly was committed to releasing budgets for the implementation of judicial reforms, including the adoption of digital tools to manage cases more effectively and ensure that justice is not delayed or denied.

He called on all stakeholders, including the legislative, executive and judiciary, to support the crucial reforms.

“Together we can build a justice system fit for the 21st century,” Akpabio said.

He expressed his gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for the appointment of Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) as Minister of Justice, describing Fagbemi as “the right man for the job.”

He also expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association, National Judicial Council led by Justice Olukayode Ariwwoola, for their continued dedication and cooperation.

Akpabio said the steps towards the reform of the justice system required unwavering commitment and concerted efforts to ensure the realization of the vision of improving the administration of justice and continued enforcement of the rule of law in Nigeria.

NAN