Technology: Buala Calls for Judges’ Conference to Restore Hope of Nigerians

Funmi Ogundare

Former spokesperson of Atiku Abubakar 2023 Presidential Campaign, Daniel Buala, yesterday called for a thorough Judges’ conference that will ensure the use of technology to record and store a judgment to enable a Judge stay  consistent with the decision of the court.

The move, he said, would restore the hope of the common man.

Buala, who was a guest on the Morning Show of Arise Televieion, spoke against the backdrop of Appeal Court rulings and electoral reforms, explaining that the courts have been drawn to so many cases as to the delivery of judgments, and added that this has brought disorganisation in the administration of justice system in Nigeria to a point where the confidence of the masses is waning regarding the trust that they have in the judiciary.

According to him, “The judiciary is referred to as the last hope of the common man because over the years, they stood for justice in land matters, criminal cases and all other matters; they have been consistent. However, only in election petition matters that we have these contradictions and conflicting decisions where the courts have given various judgments.”

He emphasised on the reform agenda, saying it cannot be possible without the removal of the INEC chairman or its commissioners, “because they have become members of political parties.”

 He expressed concern that the 10th Assembly is worse than a rubber stamp, saying they don’t debate or interrogate issues, and when bills are brought to the house, they are passed with speed.

“You know the bill process. When they are brought to the plenary, they are debated and submitted to the committee that will hold hearings before it becomes a law. The procedure is to ensure that Nigerians are carried along because the law is made for the people not the people for the law. Reform proposals of the ninth Assembly must be reassessed,” Buala stated.

He recalled that when he served in the Office of the Deputy Senate President in the ninth Assembly, he began a process of reforming the constitutional amendment where pre-election and election tribunal were provided for.

We don’t want a situation where somebody will win an election and a court will remove him for whatever reasons. So whatever questions that arise at congress must be determined before primaries start up to the highest court that has jurisdiction over it. Whatever happens in tribunal must be finished before the election,” he stated.