ZAINAB JUNAID
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Babatunde Ajibade has emphasized the need to uphold judicial reform, a complete overhaul of National Judicial Council (NJC) through constitutional amendment.
Dr. Ajibade made the call while speaking on the HEDA’s X Space Monthly Advocacy Series (MAS) themed “Judiciary: The Last Hope of the Common Man”, recently.
He proposed restructuring of the NJC to include fewer judges and increased representation from civil society organizations and relevant government agencies.
While identifying major challenges affecting the Nigeria’s Judiciary’s system, Dr. Ajibade highlighted appointment and promotion of incompetent judges, insufficient funding, and limited number of judicial officers as woes of justice system’s efficiency.
He said “Judiciary is always a last resort for justice but when we have cases of judicial forgery is a sign of inadequate self regulation. Corruption is perceived as a real threat within the judiciary. While many judges maintain integrity, the actions of a few have cast negative shadow over the judiciary as a whole.
“Secondly, Nigerian judges are faced with heavy workloads, having 1,200 judges that serves a population of 220 million, each managing up to 30 to 40 cases daily”.
However, to address this bottlenecks, Dr. Ajibade recommended a clear separation of judicial and administrative duties in the judiciary both at national and state levels.
He urged the NJC to relieve judges of administrative tasks, allowing them to concentrate on delivering justice.
“Judges should focus on their constitutional responsibilities, while qualified court administrators handle day-to-day administrative management,” he advised.
HEDA’s Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, buttressed the points, urging the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to uphold judicial reform by enforcing ethics and sanction lawyers who deviate from professional standards.
He emphasized HEDA’s dedication to a corruption-free judiciary that remains a reliable avenue for justice for all Nigerians.
Dr. Ajibade’s recommendations signal a critical need to address systemic issues within Nigeria’s judiciary system, aiming for greater efficiency and integrity in the justice system.
