FG Moves To Review Justice System For Seamless Access To All Nigerians

… Convenes National Summit On Justice April 24

The Federal Government has resolved to make a holistic review of the justice system towards making justice adjudication seamlessly accessible to all Nigerians.

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, who disclosed this Thursday, in a briefing with Newsmen, said that to realize this, the Federal government is convening a National Summit on Justice between April 24 – 25, to address critical challenges in the justice sector.

The summit is being organised by Federal Ministry of Justice, alongside the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the National Judicial Council (NJC).

The theme of the Summit which will hold at the Auditorium of National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja is, Repositioning the Justice System: Constitutional, Statutory, and Operational Reforms for Access and Efficiency” and will be declared open by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on April 24.

According to Prince Fagbemi, “This crucial event 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 prioritize the justice needs of the average Nigerian.

“The National Summit on Justice presents a unique opportunity to collectively tackle the pressing issues hindering the efficient, fair, and people-centered delivery of justice in our nation.”

The Justice Minister explained that one of the Summit’s goals includes 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.

“This comprehensive policy document outlines a broad framework and initiatives in 17 thematic areas aimed at reforming the justice sector to enhance its effectiveness and accessibility to all Nigerians, ensuring that justice is not just a privilege for the few, but a right for all.

‘The policy aims to address various challenges within the legal framework, seeking to promote social cohesion, bolster economic development, and foster good governance”, he stressed.

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.

The summit keynote will be addressed 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.

Prince Fagbemi further said 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.

He hinted that the Federal government is looking 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.

The Attorney General maintained that 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.

“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”, he said.