Vincent Adodo, Esq., FIMC, Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) SPIDEL Public Interest Litigation Committee, has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to issue guidelines or practice directions aimed at improving communication between courts and counsel.
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Adodo highlighted the growing need for courts to leverage modern information and communication technology to prevent lawyers from making long journeys to court only to find no sitting or prior notice of adjournments.
He recounted a personal experience in Kaduna State, saying: “Today, my colleague and I travelled to the High Court of Kaduna State in Dogorawa, Zaria for a matter. Before taking off, we confirmed with the court registrar several times that the court would sit. To our dismay, when we arrived ten minutes before 10am, the court was empty, with no staff present to receive counsel or provide updates.”
Adodo stressed that while courts may occasionally not sit for valid reasons, registries should give adequate notice preferably at least 48 hours in advance to prevent unnecessary waste of time, energy, finances, and emotional resources.
He urged the NJC, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice K.M.O. Kekere-Ekun, GCON, to make it mandatory for all courts to maintain digital communication channels, including WhatsApp groups, to keep counsel updated on case schedules and court activities.
Adodo also commended certain courts for effectively implementing such practices, citing Ondo State High Court 2 (Adebusoye, J.), Federal High Court, Akure, and High Court 1, New Karu, Nasarawa State, as positive examples.
He expressed hope that this reform would become a significant development in the ongoing modernization of Nigeria’s judiciary.
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