Group calls on CJN to declare state of emergency in judiciary

As a matter of urgency, a judicial watchdog, Access to Justice, has called on the Chief Judge of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen, to declare a state of emergency in Nigeria’s judicial system.

Speaking at a press conference over the weekend, the Executive Director of Access to Justice, Joseph Otteh, pointed out that the Nigerian judiciary needs an urgent reform based on irregularities plaguing the system.

Otteh cited an example of Kenya whose judiciary was an object of ridicule but things changed when Willy Matunga took over as the Chief Justice embarking on a far-reaching programme succeeding in overhauling the once-maligned judiciary into a respectable voice of the rule of law and a strong pillar of democracy in Kenya.

“During an event to mark the beginning of a new legal year two weeks ago, Mr Onnoghen had admitted that the judiciary faced “numerous challenges” in the previous year and outlined major reforms in the sector, including a directive that lawyers representing anyone in court must not exceed five at a sitting.

“There is need to revive the judiciary so that it can serve the citizens’ expectations of a truly independent institution that is confident of the integrity of its members as well as one that enjoys the confidence of the people,” Otteh said.

Otteh also called for a financial disclosure reporting system as done in other jurisdictions where all extrajudicial payments to judges are self-reported and judges submit periodic financial disclosure reports.

“The review should enable the NJC act on anonymous complaints, protect whistleblowers, and collaborate with official anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations of corruption.

“Corruption is a problem in lower courts across the country, and many states do not have credible or effective systems for fighting corruption within their respective jurisdictions.

“The NJC should immediately direct heads of courts in State and Federal jurisdictions to establish effective disciplinary regulations or guidelines applicable to both lower court ‘judges’ and court staff, and increase efforts to stamp out corruption from the lower courts,” he said.

“Without an iota of doubt, Nigerians want to see more judicial reforms executed, with more speed and urgency,” corroborated Adenike Aiyedun, a Deputy Director in Access to Justice.

“We need more traction and more resolve applied in the fight to transform the delivery of justice in Nigeria. Our concern is that the current speed and pace of reforms are neither strong nor vibrant enough and it is not creating the kind of momentum or impetus that Nigerians are eager to see,” Aiyedun added.

Aiyedun called for a three-phase reform plan to be implemented in the short, medium, and long-term that would focus on reducing court delays, combating corruption, and initiating institutional reforms.

She urged the National Judicial Council to end arbitrary court closures frequently occasioned by judges attending ceremonial functions such as the recent valedictory ceremony of Ibrahim Auta, the former Chief Judge of the Federal High Court which held on a weekday.

She also called for a review of judges’ vacation period and also an end to the practice of transferring judges from one jurisdiction to another before the judges conclude the cases on their court’s dockets.

“Judge transfers take a huge toll on the time for completing cases, and entail many cases starting afresh even where they may have been pending in court for many years, and are nearing completion,” Aiyedun added.