The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has urged the Nigerian Judiciary to devise a comprehensive strategy for the revolutionary changes necessary to improve judicial effectiveness and ensure impartial justice administration nationwide.
Senator Akpabio made this appeal during the launch of a two-day Summit on “Enhancing Justice Delivery in Nigeria” organized by the Federal Ministry of Justice in partnership with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and other international development collaborators in Abuja.
In a statement released by the Special Assistant on Media/Communication to the Senate President, Anietie Ekong, Senator Akpabio was quoted as saying that the “joint efforts of stakeholders will determine the strategic course of Nigeria’s justice system, making it more resilient, accessible, and just.”
Akpabio expressed, “In the upcoming months, I intend to invite my counterparts in the Senate and the House of Representatives to deliberate on these suggestions with the seriousness and thoroughness they warrant.
“Together, with the guidance and backing of the judiciary, legal scholars, and the Nigerian populace, we will embark on this legislative voyage to codify these reforms into law.
“This goes beyond legislative responsibility; it is our ethical obligation to strengthen the framework of our nation’s justice system for current and future generations. I eagerly anticipate constructive conversations and the eventual realization of these reforms, ensuring a fair, equitable, and prosperous society for all.
“It would be disingenuous to claim that we at the National Assembly are oblivious to the delays and backlogs afflicting our courts, which not only hinder prompt justice but also erode confidence in our judicial system.
“These delays harm the most vulnerable members of our society and foster an environment where justice is perceived as unattainable and inefficient. In an age where technology has revolutionized numerous sectors, it is imperative that we leverage its potential within our judicial procedures to expedite processes and enhance transparency.
“We are dedicated to allocating funds for the execution of judicial reforms that will involve the integration of digital resources to manage cases more efficiently and guarantee that justice is neither postponed nor withheld.
“This undertaking demands a collaborative approach. I appeal to all stakeholders, including my colleagues in both legislative and executive branches, as well as the judiciary itself, to endorse these crucial reforms. Together, we can establish a justice system that is suitable for the 21st century,” he remarked.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shetima, highlighted that the administration has initiated extensive reforms to improve justice delivery, including the appointment of a full complement of Justices to the Supreme Court.
Other participants who delivered presentations at the Summit included the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, among others.
