BENIN CITY – The Nigerian Judiciary has been told to leverage on its use of information communication technology (ICT) to help it fast track on filing and documentation processes even as it continues the fight for financial autonomy.
This was the position of legal practitioners who voiced on the need to cut off administrative bureaucracies and bottlenecks in the judicial system as the 2022 Annual Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association, Benin Branch, came to an end.
Being an interactive session which made provision for lawyers (Members of the Bar) to interface with Judges (Members of the Bench) as well as their seniors in practice (SAN’s) on issues of interest, setbacks and the way forward, led to an outflow of ideas and mentoring with the possibility of a convergence of ideas.
Ogaga Ovrawah, SAN, said the use of electronic hearing notices for upcoming “cause lists” already in use in Delta State, in practice, should be adopted by Edo State to maximize on court appearances.
He said for any case filed, there must be an accompanying “CD” or soft copy for ease of reach by assigned judge as well as giving dimension and depth to the courts e-library which tries to phase out the baggage of hard to reach/not easily accessible files.
Dr. Osagie Obayuwana lamented falling standards of practice and need for lawyers to brush up on their personal outlook while making appearances in court.
Barr. Peter Efosa Osakue hailed the Judiciary and its use of soft copies during the filing process which he noted was a new innovation. He informed that by the use of CD’s the process was more dynamic by causing less stress to judges. He nonetheless called lawyers to be computer literate to cut down on turning in blank documents CD’s to judges.
Going further, he called on the executives arm of government to grant financial autonomy to the judiciary to make it independent. He also sued for increased salaries and allowances for Judges.
NBA Chairman, Pius Oiwor while speaking on irregularities bedeviling the judiciary touched on the issue of financial autonomy, which he said was guaranteed by the constitution. He said it was a concept that was most welcome, also needed in the legislature to make for ease of carrying out their constitutional roles.
Barr. Douglas Ogbankwa called on the judiciary to walk the talk. They should apply technology in the arbitration of justice especially in the use of teleconferencing. He posited that there was no reason why the courts couldn’t have zoom trials for instance, in this time and age, where there is use of advanced technology. Making reference to the valedictory speech of Hon. Justice Esther Amenaghanwon Edigin, he quoted, “Let the executive take the nail from the neck of the judiciary so that it can breath.”
He said the judiciary should do more and stop ruling against itself when suits concerning the autonomy of the judiciary come up for hearing.
It is worthy of note that most lawyers unanimously sued for an amendment of the filing process, frowning at shouldering costs for filing of judicial processes, documentation (kilo) and added burden of mobilizing bailiffs adequately for optimal service delivery.
