Asaba – Delta Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. (Dr) Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that there cannot be effective rule of law in Nigeria without financial autonomy and independence of the judiciary.

Okowa stated this in his keynote address at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) – Section on Legal Practice (SLP) 2022 Annual Conference in Asaba.

He said at the conference with “Legal Practice in Nigeria: Our Reality, Our Future” as the theme, that the NBA leadership deserved commendations for its continued fight for the rule of law and holding the executive arm of government accountable to the principles of fairness, equity and justice.

He commended the NBA for holding the conference in Asaba, one of Nigeria’s fastest growing cities, and assured that his administration would continue to support financial autonomy for the judiciary in the state just as the legislative arm.

“The courts and the legal profession must continue to adapt to cope with rapid changes like cross-jurisdictional legal issues and resolve disputes over business activities in the virtual world. They will have to address the impact of information technology on their work.

“Of equal importance is the need for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to continue championing the welfare and well-being of legal practitioners and members of the Judiciary.

“The Delta State Government is working to provide a framework under which the Judiciary and the legal profession can respond positively to these challenges, hence in 2021, I signed into law the Delta State Judiciary Fund Management (Financial Autonomy).

“While I agree that much work remains to attain genuine financial autonomy, the law marks a critical first step for the independent control of the Judiciary’s internal fiscal management and appropriations.

“My administration has and will continue to support the notion that judicial finance should be exercised free of interference by the executive branch of government in the same manner that the executive and legislative branches administer the funds appropriated for their internal operations.

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“This is because there can be no rule of law without a guarantee of independence for the judiciary.

“Protecting the independence of judges and courts in the interest of the administration of justice

includes giving them the substantial resources they need to fully perform their judicial duties properly and efficiently and to consider cases fairly and within a reasonable time as required by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“In addition, the courts must have the assurance from the other two state powers that they will have sufficient operating resources and financial autonomy in managing these resources. We will continue to work to achieve this end ultimately.

“The legal community must put itself in a position to leverage the continental trade liberalisation under the AfCFTA because the expected growth in business and investments presents significant prospects,” the governor said.

He added that businesses would need competent lawyers to advise on domestic and international transactions, conflicts of laws and commercial dispute resolution and urged Nigerian lawyers to specialise in established and emerging practice areas.

“I subscribe to the view that Nigeria does not have too many lawyers but too many lawyers doing the same thing. Many lawyers tend to focus on the obvious practice areas like criminal, family, or land law.

“But there is an increasing need for legal advice in niche areas. These include international trade law, with the advent of the AfCFTA and the exponential increase in cross-border trade,’’ he said, adding that a society governed by the rule of law, must ensure that citizens had access to justice at reasonable cost and speed.