Lawyers in Lagos are calling on the Court judiciary to rehabilitate its tarnished reputation and adopt modern technology to improve its service delivery.
In individual interviews conducted on Thursday in Lagos, a diverse group of lawyers expressed their anticipation for enhanced service delivery from the judiciary in the year 2024.
Bayo Akinlade, a former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikorodu branch, specifically urged the judiciary to prioritize transparency in dispensing justice.
“I know we say this every year, but making our justice system work takes the efforts and cooperation of all stakeholders. We must do our best to ensure a better future for our children and generations to come,” Mr Akinlade said.
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Akinlade commended the federal government for augmenting the budget allocation to the judiciary and recommended that state governments should likewise increase their budgetary provisions for the state judiciary.
In a similar vein, Ademola Owolabi, a partner at Adetokunbo Chambers, Lagos, asserted the need to establish state courts of appeal and state supreme courts to handle issues related to marriages, chieftaincy, and other residual matters. He characterized the existing system as unwieldy and in need of a “surgical operation.”
Expressing the timeliness of this initiative, he urged the attorney general of the federation to address the matter, especially given that the Supreme Court now had a full complement of justices. Mr. Owolabi encouraged the attorney general and other judicial figures to explore ways to integrate technology into the judicial administration of the country.
Chibikem Opara, a partner at Justification Firm, Ikeja, called on the judiciary to restore its reputation, which, according to him, has faced significant criticism in recent times.
“I expect the judiciary to go all out to launder its battered image through enhanced service delivery. It must improve and greatly minimise the time for service delivery,” Mr Opara said.
Mr. Opara emphasizes that the judiciary must consistently bear in mind that justice should not only be carried out but must also be unmistakably evident in all instances and at every level.