THE Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, has urged judges to make special training their priority in order to enhance the efficiency in the operation of the maritime industry.
Onnoghen made the call at the 15th edition of the International Maritime Seminar for Judges organised by Nigerian Shippers Council (NSC) in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to him, the judiciary has played creditably its constitutional role in judicial interpretation and resolution of disputes for the growth of the maritime industry and economic development.
“I must not fail to mention that judges must continue to receive special training in order to enhance their performance which will, in turn, enable them to handle such technical matters for efficient operation of the maritime industry.
“Let me urge you to seize the opportunity created at this forum to brainstorm in order to develop strategies that would get you acquainted with the dynamic nature of the sector and best judicial practices in resolving disputes arising in the admiralty sector of the economy,” he said.
The CJN stressed the need for the expeditious resolution of maritime cases through Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms such as Conciliation and Mediation
According to him, the adoption of technology is helping to transform the maritime industry into digital economy.
The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, said the objective of the seminar was to educate and equip judicial officers with basic contemporary knowledge of admiralty law and practice.
The minister, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Sabiu Zakari, said that the importance of speedy and efficient handling of maritime cases by the court could not be overemphasised.
He recalled that in the past, dispensation of admiralty matters had been a slow and tedious process, owing to the fact that admiralty law was not taught in the universities as part of the curriculum.
According to him, the seminar will help in addressing the above challenge and to ensure expeditious dispensation of justice in admiralty cases in order to make our economy viable.
He explained that the NSC collaborated with Nigeria Judicial Institute (NJI) to address this challenge by bringing together biennially legal experts to deliberate on contemporary developments in international shipping and trade.
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Amaechi further said the ministry had inaugurated a Ministerial Committee to complement NSC’s efforts at achieving the set objectives, adding that the committee is engaging relevant government agencies to introduce at least the basics of admiralty law into the curriculum of the nation’s universities.
In his remarks, Mr Abubakar Malami, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said that the seminar has proved to be a very successful initiative aimed at encouraging the training of judges and legal practitioners.
Malami, who was represented by an official of the ministry, Mr Puis Otte, said that the industry should continue to develop the requisite human capacity to take advantage of opportunities in the maritime industry.
“If our judges lack the requisite training and competence to adjudicate in maritime disputes in a fair and effective manner it will, without doubt, lead to a loss of confidence in Nigeria’s business environment.”
Malami commended NSC for recognising the role judiciary can play in ensuring a safe maritime sector that is regulated in a fair manner.
The NSC’s Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Hassan Bello, thanked all participants and the Chief Justices of Gambia, Ghana and Sierra Leone for taking part in the seminar which is aimed at moving the African maritime industry forward.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Aliko Dangote launched the book of the 14th edition of the seminar with N10 million for 10 copies of the book.
