The Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has tasked the judiciary on the necessity to remain neutral arbiters and sustain the ethos of democracy ìn order to gain public confidence in the judicial system.
Ariwoola gave the task on Monday at a 3-day retreat for Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal, organised by the Attorney General Alliance-Africa (AGA-AFRICA) in collaboration with the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital.
The CJN, represented by Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, said the theme of the retreat, “Achieving efficiency and effectiveness in a Judicial system in Nigeria” was apt, adding that such retreats would serve as constant reminders to judicial officers of the crucial role they play in the society towards the attainment of a stable polity.
“In light of the above, you will agree with me that ‘Democracy’ can only thrive on the respect for the Rule of Law and its principles also advocate the independence of the Judiciary, the doctrine of Separation of Powers, guarantee of fundamental rights, freedom of expression epitomized by free press and media as well as free and fair elections, all of which can only be guaranteed by an efficient and effective judiciary.
“Therefore, efficiency and effectiveness are not mere aspirations but essential foundations upon which our justice system rests. They are also the cornerstone of a judiciary that earns the trust and confidence of its people.
“In order to achieve this, it is imperative to explore innovative case management techniques, embrace modern technologies to streamline court processes, and generally dispense justice in a manner that restores faith in the rule of law.
“I must reiterate that as we move forward into this digital age, we must embrace the potential of technology which would significantly enhance efficiency by streamlining administrative tasks, aid legal research, reduce having backlog of cases, and generally improve transparency and efficiency in the administration of justice,” the CJN said.
He charged them to take the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, share best practices, and generally learn from one another.
“This exchange of ideas, you must agree with me, foster innovations which can engender reforms and improve processes in the judiciary; therefore, it is my expectation that this retreat will provides us with an invaluable opportunity to reflect on our current practices, identify areas for improvement, and chart a course towards a more efficient and effective judiciary.
“My Lords, Distinguished Participants, Ladies and Gentlemen, over the course of this retreat, I will appreciate and encourage open and frank discussions. We must also engage in a constructive exchange of ideas, drawing upon our collective wisdom and experiences by examining best practices from local and International jurisdictions, thereby culminating in thoughtful dialogue aimed at providing solutions to the challenges confronting our judiciary.
“Distinguished Participants, I am very optimistic that the fruitful discussions and collaborative efforts that will undoubtedly emerge from this retreat will, no doubt map out strategies towards a more efficient and effective judiciary; one that not only dispenses justice but also serves as a beacon of hope and trust for our nation.
“I am confident that working together, we can reaffirm the judiciary’s role as a pillar of democracy and justice in Nigeria.In rounding off my brief remarks, let me commend the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Hon. Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi, and his team for effectively collaborating with AGA-AFRICA in organising this highly important Retreat for Honourable Justices of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal,” Ariwoola said.
In a welcome address, Administrator of NJI, Justice Salisu Garba Abdullahi stated that a vibrant and independent Judiciary manned by upright judicial officers remained indispensable to the sustenance of public confidence in the administration of Justice.
He added that the theme of the retreat could not have been more apt as it would afford the justices the opportunity to appraise the judicial system with a view to proferring interventions for improvements.
“The pursuit of justice is the conerstone of any thriving democracy and it is essential that our judicial system operate with utmost efficiency and effectiveness to uphold the principle upon which our nation was founded. In this light, concerted efforts must be made towards the timely resolution of cases, the streamlining of legal procedures, and the elimination of unnecessary delays.
“Therefore, it is incumbent upon us to invest in several key areas such as ICT and also leverage on case management among many others.
“In the light of the above, it is imperative that we must ensure that Justice is not only done but should be seen to be done in a manner that represents the rights and needs of all parties involved as speedy Justice delivery instills confidence in our legal system.
“On our part, the NJI will not relent to fulfilling it’s mandate of delivering quality judicial education to our judicial officers by organising workshops, seminars, conferences and by collaborative efforts to hold retreats such as this to improve the quality of judicial decisions and enhance the overall effectiveness and efficiency of our judicial system.” Abdullahi assured.
In a remark,Chukukere Unamba-Opara, AGA Africa Programme Director and Country Coordinator for Kenya said that the AGA-Africa Programme has been consistently dedicated to strengthening the legal landscape while their commitment to enhancing the capabilities of your judiciary remains unwavering.
“Our collaboration has seen us engage in various meaningful initiatives, including but not limited to other retreats for esteemed Supreme Court and Court of Appeal Justices.
“We have also conducted workshops on Asset Forfeiture Regime Under Nigerian Law and the Bench’s Perspective of the Capital Market; Effective Administration of Criminal Justice; and Oral Advocacy and Electronic Evidence.
“This history of collaboration seamlessly paves the way for our continued support of this event. These workshops are reflective of the work that we do across our partner countries – Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Nigeria in the areas of transnational organised crime including Trafficking, Money Laundering, and Wildlife Crime.
“The breadth and scope of our work demonstrates the AGA-Africa Programme’s understanding that transnational organised crimes cannot be tackled without cross-border cooperation between countries.
“If crime crosses all borders, so must our work as criminal justice actors. If organised criminal groups can exploit the openness and opportunities of globalisation for their purposes, then we must exploit those very same factors in the pursuit of access to justice,” he stated.
He said AGA Africa would leverage the impact of integration to develop multi-lateral strategies towards addressing common problems and expressed appreciation to the National Judicial Institute for its invaluable support and collaboration in making the workshop possible.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
