Guardian

THE National Assembly is planning a new law to address delay in justice delivery in the country.

Several factors have until now been responsible for delays, like obsolete laws, lopsided mode of judges’ appointment, attitudes of lawyers, filing of frivolous applications, dilapidated infrastructures and ineffective use of technology.

The law, which is at the instance of a bill sent to the National Assembly by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke, is aimed at reforming the entire justice system.

Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bayo Ojo, told The Guardian that the AGF is working with relevant justice committees in the National Assembly to ensure easy passage of the bill.

Ojo, who is privy to the information, on the strength of his being one of the country’s notable lawyers contacted for input by the chairman of the committee on judiciary, said the new law would address all hiccups against quick dispensation of justice.

He hinted that issues, like prison reforms, suspended sentences and technological improvements will feature prominently in the new law.

Ojo, optimistic that better days are ahead, solicited the cooperation of relevant stakeholders to check impediments to quicker dispensation of justice.

Giving the background of the bill, Ojo said it is an offshoot of recommendations by the Justice Akintola Ejiwumi (a retired justice of the Supreme Court) -led committee, which was set up by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2006, to reform the criminal justice system.

According to Ojo, a lot of progress has been made, so far, following the setting up of a new committee to implement the reports of the Justice Ejiwumi-led committee.

“Very soon, Nigeria will have a smoother judicial system because, from the contact I got from the chairman of the justice committee in the House of Representatives, critical issues are being reviewed.

“With the cooperation of all stakeholders, like the National Judicial Institute, that has already come out with a new practice directive, we will soon have a smoother administration of justice.”

But former Edo State Attorney-General, Charles Edosomwan, believes that apart from the new law, there is still need for a law to limit appeals, especially interlocutory ones. He also solicited for the establishment of a case management system in the courts to improve speedy trials.

Edosomwan further advocated a critical review in the process of appointing judges, fine-tuning of front-loading process in the rules of courts and use of technology.

According to Edosomwan, the Supreme Court should be made a court of constitutional significance, attending only to appeals on constitutional matters and not interlocutory appeals.

“Right now, everybody has the constitutional right of appeal up to the apex court in the land and that could only be upturned through a constitutional amendment,” he said.

But the Nigeria Bar Association chairman (Ikeja branch), Monday Ubani, called for an amendment that will not allow frivolous applications.

He said: “We should have a system where if you have any appeal on preliminary issues, you have to wait until the substantive issue is trashed before you can appeal altogether, and not on a particular issue or part.

“If you are found guilty and you want to appeal, you can have a holistic appeal, not part appeal.”