National Summit on Justice to Address Sector Challenges
Charles Ogba, Abuja.
The Federal Ministry of Justice, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the National Judicial Council (NJC), is set to host a National Summit on Justice from April 24th to 25th, 2024 to address critical challenges in the Justice Sector in Nigeria,
The Attorney General of the Federation and Nigeria’s Minister of justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN revealed this while speaking to journalists in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
“Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu will declare open the Justice Sector Summit themed “Repositioning the Justice System: Constitutional, Statutory, and Operational Reforms for Access and Efficiency” on April 24th, 2024.”
According to the Attorney General of the Federation, the summit seeks to address the significant challenges plaguing Nigeria’s justice sector and pave the way for much-needed reforms that will make justice more accessible to all Nigerians.
“It will bring together experts, legal professionals, and key stakeholders from across the country to engage in constructive discussions and develop practical solutions that prioritise the justice needs of the average Nigerian,” he said.
Fagbemi said the National Summit on Justice will present a unique opportunity to collectively tackle the pressing issues hindering the efficient, fair, and people-centered delivery of justice in Nigeria.
“The Joint Planning Committee established by the Federal Ministry of Justice and the NBA, headed by the Chairman of the NBA Judiciary Committee, Dr. Babatunde Ajibade, SAN has assembled a remarkable group of speakers and panelists to share their invaluable knowledge and expertise and proffer constructive solutions for making the justice system more efficient and accessible to all Nigerians.
Notably, the summit will feature a keynote address by Dr. Willy Mutunga, EGH, a renowned legal scholar, jurist and former Chief Justice of Kenya, celebrated for his commitment to democratic principles and human rights, and for the transformative judicial reform that took place in Kenya under his watch.
One of the Summit’s goals is to review, validate, and adopt the revised National Policy on Justice 2024 – 2028 to drive prison reforms, access to justice for the average Nigerian, as well as the review of electoral laws and procedures in handling election related cases, among several other reforms,” Fagbemi Said
The Minister of justice emphasised that the Summit will deliberate on draft legislations proposed to address specific identified challenges within the justice sector, relating to the judicial appointments process, administration, funding and budgeting for the judiciary, the elimination of delays and inefficiencies in justice delivery and to evolve ways to reduce the amount of time for adjudication of cases, eliminate some of the associated technicalities, and reduce the number of cases getting to the Supreme Court.
“In this regard, we intend to look at a situation where many cases will terminate at the court of appeal to reduce the burden on our noble justices of the Supreme Court.
These proposed laws are expected to serve as a catalyst for collective action and provide a guiding framework for relevant governmental institutions at both the national and sub national levels to establish an effective, efficient, and people-centered justice system,” he said
“We cannot afford to remain complacent in the face of the obstacles impeding the efficient delivery of justice for all Nigerians. This Summit presents an opportunity for us to unite our efforts, leverage our collective expertise, and chart a course toward a more just and equitable society.
As we prepare for this milestone event, we are hopeful that the National Summit on Justice will usher in a new era of positive change and progress in our justice sector, ensuring a fair, accessible, and efficient legal system that upholds the rule of law while safeguarding fundamental human rights,” he further stated.
While speaking, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Yakubu Maikyau, expressed that the judiciary is committed to providing solutions to the challenges confronting the sector, highlighting the significance of the justice Sector Summit, where these concerns will be tackled.
Dominica Nwabufo
