Tinubu, Akpabio pledge justice sector reforms

Kanya ex-CJ canvasses home-grown jurisprudence
President Bola Tinubu and President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, have promised to give fresh direction to the justice sector in the country through a holistic overhaul.

They pledged at the opening of the two-day National Summit on Justice 2024 in Abuja. The summit, organised by the Federal Ministry of Justice (FMoJ) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), in collaboration with the European Union (EU)-funded ROLAC II Programme of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).

Tinubu, represented by his vice, Kashim Ibrahim, said the administration was committed to a just society that would support and encourage investments.

He, therefore, directed all institutions of the justice sector to key into the new agenda targeted at repositioning and strengthening the justice sector to enhance access, transparency, accountability, fairness and efficiency.

Akpabio remarked that the National Assembly “is set” to tackle pervasive misuse of ex parte orders by judges.

He underscored the urgency of restoring integrity and accountability to the issuance of such orders, which, he said, had become a contentious issue in political cases.

While condemning the abuse of judicial authority for political gain, Akpabio outlined a multi-faceted approach to curb the practice rooted in stringent oversight and ethical governance.

Earlier in his welcome address, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the summit was to address critical issues affecting the administration of justice in the country and to validate and adopt the revised National Policy on Justice of 2024-2028.

Former Chief Justice of Kenya, Dr Willy Montunga, who was the keynote speaker at the summit themed, ’Repositioning the Justice System: Constitutional, Statutory and Operational Reforms for Access and Efficiency’, sought a shift from British-styled jurisprudence to home-grown jurisprudence.

Montunga advocated constitutional reform fashioned along the people’s tradition that would be binding on all citizens.

Nigeria, he explained, has used its constitution for the past 25 years; hence, the need to review it to benefit the people, adding that the justice system should be reformed to give more people access to the courts.