In The Absence Of Justice, We Won’t Have a Country — NBA President, Maikyau SAN, Others Speak At Hiil Launch Of JNS

*Says NBA Set to Establish Pro Bono Centre
*Clarifies Pro Bono Services For INEC
*Accepts Hand Of Fellowship Extended By Justice Needs And Satisfaction (JNS)
*Prof. Nnandi Obiara emphasises On The Need To Embrace Informal Justice System
*DG Legal Aid Council, Prof. Aliyu Calls For People—Centered Justice

The Hague Institution for Innovation of Law (HIIL) has decried the slow pace at which Justice is administered in Nigeria especially by those in the rural area.

HiiL, noted that about 81 per cent of Nigeria’s population are currently having legal and justice related problems.

And that the legal problems are frequent reality for many Nigerians, with 81 per cent of adults having experienced, at least, one legal problem in the last one year.

HiiL, made this disclosure In an event organized by it on the Launch of Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) on Tuesday, 25th April held at Abuja Continental Hotel (formerly Sheraton hotel).

At the event it was gathered that the presentation of the JNS Nigeria 2023 report would shed light on the state of people-Centre’s Justice in Nigeria. The report is an essential tool for understanding the needs of the population, identifying areas that require improvement, and monitoring the progress of various justice initiatives.

The event brought together stakeholders from various sectors to wit government representatives, judiciary members, civil society organizations, innovators and media houses.

Presenting the reports from the Survey, carried out in 6 geopolitical zone, HiiL Executive Director, Sam Mauler, said that issues bordering on neighbours, domestics, land and housing crises dominated the legal challenges in the country.

The reports further revealed that land and domestic violence are even more prevalent among rural residents in the country.

HiiL reports stated that only 55 per cent are resolved, while 82 percent of issues resolved are considered fair and 35 per cent completely resolved.

The report, entitled: ‘Justice needs and satisfaction (JNS) Nigeria 2023 Report’, stated that in most instances, the escalating community crises in Nigeria forced residents to embrace People Centred Justice (PCJ) rather than the modern structured justice system.

Responding, stakeholders and experts at the session called for collaborative efforts to improve the justice delivery in the country.

They emphasised the need to embrace community justice by giving the desired teeth to the informal justice system in the country to enhance justice delivery.

Nnandi Obiara of the faculty of law, Imo State University, Owerri, called for the de-emphasising technicality in the Nigeria justice delivery.

He stressed the need to allow an informal justice system to aid justice dispensation in the country and further called for more courts in rural areas to resolve community based issues.

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau, SAN, profoundly stated that Justice is important for our existence as a nation. The NBA President stated this while giving his feedback on the report and seeks partnership between the NBA and the organization so as to strengthen the judiciary.

Y. C Maikyau, OON; presenting the NBA, thanked Prof Nnamdi Obiaeri, the last speaker for correcting the impression that could have been drawn from the previous speaker that Nigeria does not have a working Justice system.

Mr Maikyau said Nigeria has a constitution and laws enacted pursuant to the constitution. What is more important is the thought behind the need for Justice. Justice is important for our existence as a nation.

Quoting the Uthman Dan Fodio, the helmsman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau has profoundly said “A people can exist without religion but a people cannot exit with Justice”. He further commended the exercise of Hiil for going to the people to check their peculiar need and how they access Justice.

In highlighting his points on the essence of Justice, he appreciated the Legal Aid Council for recognizing Prof Chief Chimezie Ikeazor, SAN and for naming the legal aid Council headquarters building after him in recognition of his contributions towards the establishment of the legal Aid Council. He stated that: “Before now lawyers did not collect fees for the service they rendered and that was what Prof Chimezie represented to the public” The motivation is usually the call for Justice.

Mr Maikyau SAN recounted how a prisoner who escaped during Kuje Jail break called the legal officer who represented him in court to inform him that he was out of jail and needed the legal aid officer to come take him back to the prison. This according to him, showed the comfort the convict had around his lawyer which was commendable.

Mr Maikyau then proceeded by calling on HiiL to partner with the NBA on the Justice sector, particularly with the NBA Judiciary Committee to fashion out ways to project the Justice sector. He further suggested that HiiL looks into the Justice Sector report of the NBA Judiciary committee which held in January 2022. The President announced that the NBA would establish a Pro bono Centre in the NBA. He clarified his statement on NBA offering pro bono service to INEC and said some members of the public misinterpreted him at some point. He noted that, “…absent the institutions that deliver Justice, we would not have a Country, that when anarchy comes, we would not recognize personalities and dignitaries here today.”

Mrs Ijeoma Nwafor, who anchored the event spoke on behalf of HiiL in accepting the President’s offer of partnership and appreciated the NBA’s stance on the Justice system. Amongst the NBA President entourage who attended the event was the 2nd Vice President of the Association, Mr Chukwuemeka Clement Ugo, Chairmen of branches of NBA in Abuja and other members of the bar.

The President speaking with media correspondents was asked why cases take long to be concluded in Courts, the President said no doubt the Courts are inundated with cases but there was need for constitutional amendments to reduce matters that travel to Supreme Court and he proposed the Electoral matters should be assigned to a special court created for that purpose to avoid situation where regular matters will suffer because of election related matter which are time sensitive. More so, the salaries and emoluments of judges should be increased adequately. According to him, “These amongst others would reduce the delays experienced in our court system”

Director General of the Nigerian Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, faulted a situation where the Supreme Court only emphasised on the high profile cases to the detriment of community and rural cases that directly affected those dwelling in the rural areas.

According to him, this had led to a situation where a lot of community-originated cases suffered calling on stakeholders for collaborative effort in the justice delivery.

He also urged for support of PCJ to enhance justice transformation.

see photos.

 

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