‘Why Political Parties May Not Get New Court Dates’

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

The immediate past chairman, House of Representatives Committee on judiciary, Hon. Onofiok Luke, has lamented that the decrease in the number of justices of the court has taken a toll on justice administration and delivery as it has stalled determination of matters of great importance with adverse effects on businesses and transactions.

Luke, who is a Senior Partner Meliora Law Partners added that as it stands, the docket of the court is full and parties cannot have new dates for matters this year.

He stated this in a statement issued Thursday to congratulate the newly sworn-in justices of the Court of Appeal and also appeal for support and better welfare for the judiciary.

Luke noted: “The decrease in the number of justices of the court has taken a toll on justice administration and delivery as it has stalled determination of matters of great importance with adverse effects on businesses and transactions.

“Unfortunately, as it stands, the docket of the court is full and parties cannot have new dates for matters this year.

“The situation also impacts negatively on the physical and mental wellbeing of the justices of the court. It is in this vein that I urgently appeal to federal government to address the deficit on the Supreme Court bench by appointing new justices to the court for smooth, effective and efficient justice delivery.”

Luke stressed that the remuneration of judicial officers was quite poor and in total disparity with the economic realities.

He said the removal of fuel subsidy has shot up the prices of goods and services, while the remuneration package for judicial officers remains the same.

According to him, For several years now, there has not been any improvement on the welfare of judicial officers despite their increasing workload, whereas we entrust sensitive matters and issues into their hands, and we expect them to be above aboard and ensure justice is done in every matter before them even if the heaven falls. It is unfair, to say the least.

To this end, Luke therefore appealed to the federal government to, as a matter of urgency, look into the remuneration and welfare of the judiciary and ensure that judicial officers are adequately remunerated and compensated in the face of their increasing workload and in line with the current economic realities.

He also appealed to the federal government to make available intervention funds for the judiciary to address its immediate needs, which have arisen owing to the removal of fuel subsidy and other economic factors.

“The intervention funds will help the Judiciary to continue to work on its ongoing capital projects across the nation and also to cater for the needs of judicial officers and staff currently engaged in election petitions across the length and breadth of the country,” Luke noted.

He said such funds would also be useful in retrofitting and digitisation of courtrooms to expedite hearing and determination of cases.

Luke urged the federal government to appoint more justices to the Supreme Court of Nigeria, saying with the sad demise of Hon. Justice Ngwuta, the number of justices of the court has again dropped to all-time low of 12 justices; making it 9 justices short of its full complement of 21 justices.