CJN Ariwoola: Justice Remains Elusive for Many Nigerians, Judiciary Must Act

During the National Summit on Justice organized by the Ministry of Justice and the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola stressed the crucial role of the judiciary in delivering justice to the people. However, he acknowledged that justice remains a distant reality for many Nigerians.

In his speech, Ariwoola called upon judicial officers to critically examine the legal framework and boldly pursue legislative reforms. He emphasized the importance of leveraging technological innovations and addressing issues of corruption, inefficiency, and undue influence within the judiciary. The CJN also highlighted the significant milestones achieved by the judiciary under his leadership.

Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, reaffirmed the justice sector’s commitment to promoting mutuality in the formation and implementation of the national policy on justice. Fagbemi traced the origins of the National Judicial Summit back to 2017, when it was conceived as a platform for analyzing, reviewing, and assessing issues affecting the administration of justice in Nigeria.

During the summit, Senate President Godswill Akpabio put forward several proposals to streamline the judicial process. These included discouraging interlocutory appeals, dispensing with the AGF’s consent for the execution of judgments attaching funds in government custody, and reviewing the manner in which ex parte orders are granted.
Akpabio emphasized the summit’s role in building consensus for the advancement of the justice sector as an enabler of socio-economic development.

The event witnessed the presence of prominent figures such as NBA President Yakubu Maikyau, President of the Court of Appeal Justice Monica Dongbam-Mendez, and other heads of superior courts.

The two-day summit aims to deliberate on ways to reduce the time taken for adjudication of cases and the number of cases reaching the Supreme Court, thereby unburdening the apex court. Other pressing issues affecting the judiciary will also be discussed during the event.