The attorney-general of the federation and minister of justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has revealed {that a} new transfer to make Nigerians entry justice unhindered is underway.
Based on him, many of the legal guidelines, together with electoral legal guidelines, are to be up to date below a brand new justice sector reform.
At a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, the AGF mentioned the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigerian Bar Affiliation (NBA) had been placing collectively a brand new Nationwide Summit on the Justice Sector the place all components hindering the effectiveness of Nigerian legal guidelines can be tackled.
He acknowledged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would on April 24, 2024, declare the Nationwide Summit open to handle essential challenges within the nation’s justice sector in Abuja.
Based on Fagbemi, the anticipated Nationwide Summit on Justice holding from April 24 – 25, 2024 on the Auditorium of Nationwide Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja, shall be hosted by the Federal Ministry of Justice, alongside the Nigerian Bar Affiliation (NBA) and the Nationwide Judicial Council (NJC).
The Summit, with the theme, “Repositioning the Justice System: Constitutional, Statutory, and Operational Reforms for Entry and Effectivity”, the minister mentioned, will deal with the numerous challenges plaguing Nigeria’s justice sector and pave the best way for much-needed reforms that may make justice extra accessible to all Nigerians.
He additional acknowledged that the summit will carry collectively consultants, authorized professionals, and key stakeholders from throughout the nation to have interaction in constructive discussions and develop sensible options that prioritise the justice wants of the typical Nigerian.
The AGF and justice minister mentioned: “The Nationwide Summit on Justice presents a singular alternative to collectively sort out the urgent points hindering the environment friendly, truthful, and people-centred supply of justice in our nation.
“The Joint Planning Committee established by the Federal Ministry of Justice and the NBA, headed by the chairman of the NBA Judiciary Committee, Dr. Babatunde Ajibade (SAN), has assembled a outstanding group of audio system and panelists to share their invaluable data and experience and proffer constructive options for making the justice system extra environment friendly and accessible to all Nigerians.”
He added that the summit will characteristic a keynote deal with by Dr. Willy Mutunga, EGH, a famend authorized scholar, jurist and former Chief Justice of Kenya, celebrated for his dedication to democratic rules and human rights, and for the transformative judicial reform that happened in Kenya on his watch.
One of many summit’s targets, the minister mentioned, is to overview, validate, and undertake the revised Nationwide Coverage on Justice 2024 – 2028 to drive jail reforms, entry to justice for the typical Nigerian, in addition to the overview of electoral legal guidelines and procedures in dealing with election associated instances, amongst a number of different reforms.
He mentioned, “This complete coverage doc outlines a broad framework and initiatives in 17 thematic areas geared toward reforming the justice sector to boost its effectiveness and accessibility to all Nigerians, guaranteeing that justice is not only a privilege for the few, however a proper for all.
“The coverage goals to handle varied challenges throughout the authorized framework, in search of to advertise social cohesion, bolster financial improvement, and foster good governance”.
He added that the Summit will deliberate on draft legislations proposed to handle particular recognized challenges throughout the justice sector, referring to the judicial appointments course of, administration, funding and budgeting for the judiciary, the elimination of delays and inefficiencies in justice supply.
It would equally evolve methods to cut back the period of time for adjudication of instances, eradicate a few of the related technicalities, and scale back the variety of instances attending to the Supreme Courtroom.
“On this regard, we intend to take a look at a scenario the place many instances will terminate on the court docket of enchantment to cut back the burden on our noble justices of the Supreme Courtroom.
“These proposed legal guidelines are anticipated to function a catalyst for collective motion and supply a guiding framework for related governmental establishments at each the nationwide and sub nationwide ranges to determine an efficient, environment friendly, and people-centered justice system,” Fagbemi famous.
The countr can’t afford to stay complacent within the face of the obstacles impeding the environment friendly supply of justice for all Nigerians, he asserted, including that “the Summit will current a chance for us to unite our efforts, leverage our collective experience, and chart a course towards a extra simply and equitable society”.
Fagbemi expressed the hope that the nationwide summit on justice will usher in a brand new period of optimistic change and progress within the nation’s justice sector, guaranteeing a good, accessible, and environment friendly authorized system that upholds the rule of regulation whereas safeguarding elementary human rights.