Judiciary

National policy on justice reform not negotiable, says AGF Fagbemi

Published

6 months ago

April 24, 2024

By Kenneth Atavti

The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has declared that the justice sector under his watch would continue to push for mutuality in the formation and implementation of the national policy on justice reform in the country.

Fagbemi, made the declaration at the 2024 National Judicial Summit on Justice Sector on Wednesday in Abuja, with the theme: `Repositioning the Justice System: Constitutional, Statutory, and Operational Reforms for Access and Efficiency”.

Giving a brief history on how the national judicial summit was born, Fagbemi said the idea was conceived in 2017 with the aim of providing a veritable platform for analysing, reviewing and accessing issues affecting the Administration of Justice in Nigeria.

“In furtherance of the above, we are developing draft constitution amendment bills which are aimed at achieving the aims of improved access to justice, deepening the independence and capacity of the judiciary, and eliminating delays in the administration of justice, among others.

“Justice Sector Summits were held in 2017 and 2022 and this summit offers us an opportunity to assess the successes recorded and challenges faced since these last summits.

“Specifically, it enables us to measure the impact of the reforms initiated by the National Policy on Justice (2017 – 2023), in the key areas of administration of justice: law enforcement, judicial proceedings, correctional services, restorative and traditional justice, legal education and practice, etc.

“At this summit we will validate and adopt the revised National Policy on Justice, 2024-2028 which is the product of extensive research work and consultations undertaken by critical stakeholders in the Justice Sector.

“Although, the draft policy itself is an ambitious document which aims to serve as a catalyst for the transformation of the entire justice system in Nigeria’’.

According to him, this is an opportunity to have a comprehensive assessment, review and consideration of issues militating against effective administration of justice in Nigeria.

“There will be a well-articulated broad road map of initiatives, actions and responsibilities for addressing and repositioning the justice sector to effectively and efficiently discharge its duties in enhancing national security: upholding the rule of law, promoting the protection of human rights, democratic principles and the socio-economic development of our nation.

He highlighted some of the key interventions proposed to be pursued in the Revised National Policy on Justice, 2024.

The policy, he said, seeks to promote and protect human rights and access to justice which are essential features of a functional justice system.

He also said it proposes practical and sustainable interventions in the implementation of statutory provisions encouraging protection of human rights and access to justice.

“It also seeks to improve mechanisms for fair and speedy dispensation of justice; detention and correctional services; restorative justice; alternative dispute resolution (ADR) – developing Nigeria into an arbitration hub on the continent; commerce and economic activities; compliance with treaty obligations; synergy and cooperation across the justice sector; and independence of the judiciary; among others,” he said.

Judiciary

Court Issues Injunction Against Enugu APC Leadership, Bars Them from Official Roles

Published

2 months ago

August 9, 2024

Online Editor

An Enugu State High Court has issued a ruling prohibiting Ugochukwu Agballah and nine other individuals from acting as officials of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The court order, signed by Deputy Chief Registrar J. I. Agu, was granted in response to a suit filed by several APC members including Nwafor Alphonsus Onyeachonam, Acting State Chairman, and Chief Michael Ezeanyawu, State Publicity Secretary, among others.

The injunction bars the following individuals from holding or presenting themselves as party officials: Ugochukwu Agballah (State Chairman), Chief Augustine Alumonah (Deputy Chairman), Jude Chinedu Aniogbo (Treasurer), Moses Emeka Eze (Organizing Secretary), Barrister Sunday Ugwoke, Ugwu Christian Kanayo, Eze Chidiebere Johnson, Queen Charles, Onyekachi T. Ezeagu, and Comrade Idoko Chikadibia.

The order also restricts them from conducting any party meetings, accessing the APC state party account, or using the party’s secretariat located at No. 598 Bishop Onyeabor Street, Enugu.

This legal action follows the recent suspension of Agballah and other key executives by the APC state executive council, who were accused of misusing their positions. The court’s decision aims to prevent further interference with the APC’s state operations until the case is reviewed on August 13, 2024.

Judiciary

Court remands 2 men for allegedly stealing items worth N338,000.

Published

2 years ago

June 23, 2022

Online Editor

A Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court on Thursday remanded Ifeanyi Ashonu, 24, and Chika Nweigwe, 21, in Ikoyi Correctional Centre for stealing items worth N338,000.

The Magistrate, Mrs M. I. Dan-Oni, remanded the defendants after they pleaded guilty to a three-count charge of break-in, conspiracy and stealing.

Dan-Oni adjourned the case until July 8 for facts and sentence.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Courage Ekhueorohan, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on June 6 at Akorede Warehouse Extension, Ijeshatedo, Surulere, Lagos.

Ekhueorohan said that the defendants broke into the shop of the complainant, Mr John Agala, and stole four laptops and three DVD players.

“They stole an HP laptop worth N50,000, Dell laptop valued N60,000, one Sony Ore 3 laptop worth N100,000, one Paca Bell laptop worth N65,000 and three DVDs worth N18,000,” Ekhueorohan said.

He said that the offences contravened Sections 287, 309 (2) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Judiciary

Financial autonomy for judiciary: Progress report discouraging – JUSUN

Published

3 years ago

September 17, 2021

Online Editor

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on Friday said it had yet to see states’ full compliance with the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

JUSUN’s National Secretary, Mr Isaiah Adetola, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that since the union suspended its strike in June, there had not been a remarkable implementation of the financial autonomy.

NAN reports that the union had, on April 6, embarked on strike to press home its demand for implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary.

Following dialogues and interventions from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the union suspended the 64-day strike on June 9, with an understanding that state governments would begin the implementation.

However, Adetola told NAN that many states had not complied.

“The progress report is not encouraging; some governors signed the Funds Management Law and many states are yet to do anything at all.

“Some state assemblies passed it to their governors for assent, while many have not; so, the news is not encouraging.

“Even those that have signed the bill into law, have not begun implementation.

” Industrial relation matters are not to be delayed,” he said.

According to him, the JUSUN National Executive Committee will meet and decide on the next line of action.

NAN reports that President Muhammadu Buhari had on May 22, 2020, signed an executive order granting financial autonomy to the legislature and the judiciary across the 36 states of the federation.

The Executive Order No. 10 of 2020, made it mandatory for each state to include allocations to its legislature and judiciary in its first-line charge of budget.

The order also mandated the accountant-general of the federation to deduct from source, amounts due to state legislatures and judiciaries from monthly allocation to each state – for states that refuse to grant the autonomy.

It was in a bid to push for implementation of judicial financial autonomy as provided by the order that the union embarked on strike on April 6. (NAN)