Osinbajo, Olanipekun, Judges, Others Harp On Justice Reforms

It was a gathering of jurists and eminent lawyers from across the country and the focus was on Justice Reforms, as they all discussed with the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo and Chief Wole Olanipekun who was celebrating his 70th birthday in Lagos on Friday.

The forum was the second Justice Summit organized by the Wole Olanipekun & Co.

Speaking on the importance of integrity of the legal process and its key actors, judges and lawyers, the VP said, “most of us who are here and have practiced in our courts and who still practice know, at least anecdotally, that many important cases today are under a shroud of doubt as whether the outcomes would be influenced one way or the other.

“Regarding delays in Nigerian courts, the UK Court of Appeal had occasion to comment in the case of IPCO and NNPC in 2015, where a challenge to the enforcement of a Nigerian seated arbitration tribunal award came before an English Court of Appeal.

“The Court of Appeal referred to the delays in the parallel proceedings in a Nigerian court as catastrophic and that it would take a further 30years to resolve.”

Highlighting the implementation of justice sector reforms in the country, speakers at the summit, which is the second in the series, identified judicial autonomy and integrity of relevant stakeholders, among other factors, as critical elements of the reform process.

Recalling Prof. Osinbajo’s tenure as Lagos State Attorney General, Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN said, the VP’s effort at the time transformed the system in the State, but noted that more work needs to be done in the Customary courts.

Mr Falana called for the reorganization of the National Judicial Council and the Judicial Service Commission, as well as the adoption of alternative dispute resolution in addressing disagreement between and among parties.

Praising the work done by the VP as Lagos State Attorney General, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Hon. Justice Paul Galumje, said “the Vice President when he was Attorney General in Lagos, did abracadabra and corruption in Lagos crumbled.”

He urged the VP to support the actualization of autonomy of the judiciary, stating that justice sector reforms and all other issues would be addressed if the judiciary gets its independence.

He also recommended the adoption of technology and other models of court practices from other parts of the world, to address challenges faced by judges and the system in Nigeria, noting that it would be a step in the right direction.

In the same vein, former NBA President, Mr Abubakar Mahmoud praised Osinbajo’s support for the judiciary, saying “you have been a strong pillar of the judiciary in this country.”

He said the current system is not very effective but noted that “we know that when you get the chance you are going to do more about the much need justice sector reforms.”

Referring to the reforms initiated by the VP as Lagos State Attorney-General that transformed the State judiciary, Mrs Funke Adekoya said more efforts would be needed by stakeholders to sustain the gains recorded at the time.

She said the adoption of technology and other innovations would help in speedy dispensation of cases and many other court processes.

The panel discussion was moderated by Bode Olanipekun, SAN.