*Harps on need to improve justice delivery to attract foreign investors
*Says huge cost should be impose on lawyers employing delay tactics
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed worry over delay in the dispensation of justice in the nation’s judiciary as well as the rising number of cases pending in various courts across the federation, saying that the development has remained a subject of grave concern to his administration.
This is just as the president urged the judiciary to weed out bad eggs that could undermine its integrity both locally and internationally within its fold.
Speaking while declaring open the 2021 All Nigeria Judges’ Conference of the Superior Courts in Abuja on Monday, President Buhari said there was a need for the judiciary to evolve strategies that would enhance the justice delivery system in the country.
Represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), Buhari said, until the nation’s justice system is not seen as “inefficient and ineffective”, Nigeria would not be able to attract foreign investors, adding that the extent to which the country could attract business, partly depends on investors’ perception of the quality of its justice system.
Stressing the need for courts to impose huge “deterrent costs” on lawyers that help litigants to unduly delay cases, the president urged the judges not allow a few to undermine the respect and trust both local and international that our judiciary has built up in over a century of its existence.
Buhari said, “As my lords are aware, delay in the dispensation of Justice, coupled with the increase in the number of cases in our courts, has remained subject of grave concern.
“As someone said, our problem is not access to justice; it is exiting the justice system. And I know that the delays are not necessarily the fault of the judges. Lawyers are often also responsible.
“Should we not then, as has been suggested by some, evolve a court award system that recognizes the court as the final and extensive public resort, and as such, delays and other dielectric tactics are visited with deterrent costs.
“We are part of the global marketplace for investment and legal services. The extent to which we can attract business to our country depends in part on investors’ perception of the quality of our justice delivery system. If we are seen as inefficient and ineffective, we would lose out to more efficient systems.
“The other point that I think must be made, is that of judicial integrity. There is in my humble view, nothing as important as for judges to be trusted for honesty and integrity. Men and women who have powers over the lives and livelihood of others are not like the rest of us. We must place them on the highest scale of probity.
“I will like to urge that your lordships must not allow a few to undermine the respect and trust both local and international that our judiciary has built up in over a century of its existence.
Commending various Heads of Courts for adopting innovative approaches that ensured that wheels of justice moved unhindered, despite challenges that were posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Buhari said the Federal Government would continue to partner with the judiciary to ensure its independence.
Earlier, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Ibrahim Muhammad, in his welcome address, said the conference offers judges a chance to collectively strategize and tackle the problems of court inefficiencies, poor infrastructure and condition of service, decay of intellectual capacity and corruption.
Justice Muhammad, who lamented that the issue of funding has continued to pose a serious challenge to the judiciary, said it could make it difficult for the institution to be impartial and objective.
He said, “Without appearing to contradict me, I yield to the fact that it may be difficult for the judiciary to be impartial and objective in a democracy where it remains financially tied to the Executive. It is trite that the foundation of impartiality is independence”.
The CJN also commended the President for granting financial autonomy to the judiciary, saying that he was saddened by the fact that only a few states have implemented the agreement relating to funding of state judiciaries.
He said, “Majority of the Heads of Courts still go caps in hands to the Governors to beg for what is constitutionally due to them.
“As such, I urge the State Governors to emulate the Federal Government by ensuring that Section 121 (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) is fully adhered to and implemented.
“I also counsel the Governors of all the States of the Federation to remember that the Judiciary cannot be regarded as being independent unless it can adequately meet its needs without kowtowing to them for funds.
“Financial independence is not just desirable; it is crucial, vital, constitutional, and imperative. We all have a duty to ensure that a repeat of the recent JUSUN strike is averted”.
In his welcome address, the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, NJI, Justice Salisu Abdullahi, described the theme of this year’s conference, ‘Promoting Judicial Excellence in the Administration of Justice’, as apt and germane, “considering the pivotal role of the Judiciary towards stabilising our democracy”.
Also, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) was represented at the event by the Acting Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr Umar Mohammed.
Other dignitaries at the event included a former CJN, Justice Mahmud Muhammad, former President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, Justices of the Supreme Court, President of the Court of Appeal, Monica Dongbam-Mensen, the Minister of the FCT, Musa Bello, as well as Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye (SAN).
