(Lawyers. Photo by Daily Nigerian)
Legal professionals have urged the Federal Government to expand judicial capacity by appointing additional judges to expedite case resolution and address persistent delays in the justice system.
Speaking individually to the News Agency of Nigeria, practitioners attributed prolonged proceedings to multiple systemic deficiencies.
Contributing factors encompass repeated court adjournments, accumulated case dockets, insufficient judicial officers, misplaced documentation, elevated court filing and service tariffs, and unwarranted detentions by law enforcement.
Lawyer Simon Agwu characterised the dysfunction as pervasive throughout the entire institutional framework, spanning litigant conduct, legal representation and judicial operations.
He noted that insufficient client information or payment delinquency frequently prompted postponements whilst advocating for enhanced facilities and expanded judicial workforce to alleviate judicial workload pressures.
He suggested incorporating technological advancement such as artificial intelligence into processes.
Attorney Abdullahi Muhammad highlighted that excessive police arrests, elevated procedural costs encompassing filing, service and bail arrangements, plus legal representation expenses compound systemic delays.
Prosecutor Nanzim Alfred recommended judicial autonomy, creation of supplementary courts, expanded judge recruitment and enhanced judicial compensation as remedial measures.
Litigant testimony illustrated the practical consequences.
Businesswoman Elizabeth Tanko reported three years elapsed on her civil matter with resolution uncertain, characterising the system as protracted for ordinary citizens.
Fellow litigant Emeka Kelechukwu similarly advocated for comprehensive judicial reform.