Lagos – Some lawyers in Lagos on Thursday urged judges to ensure speedy dispensation of cases in order to discourage frivolous applications aimed at distorting the course of justice.
The lawyers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the attitude of some legal practitioners, who file frivolous motions, was responsible for the delay in court proceedings.
A Lagos based lawyer and rights activist, Mr Anthony Makolo said that frivolous motions in court disrupted the quick dispensation of justice in deserving cases.
Makolo said that there was also the need for the enactment of a new Administration of Criminal Justice Law, to help check the situation.
“What I think can be done is that they have to come up with a new administrative criminal justice law, and all forms of frivolous applications have to be stopped.
“The judges or magistrates should not entertain such frivolous applications.”
Makolo urged judges, magistrates, as well as administrators of justice, to promote the cause of justice by refusing such applications.
Another lawyer and social critic, Mr Femi Ogundare described the situation as most annoying– especially in criminal cases– where prosecutors are not diligent.
“The manner in which some prosecutors handle criminal cases is one that raises a lot of questions and if I must add, even tension.[pro_ad_display_adzone id=”70560″]
“Even where these accused persons have not been admitted to bail, some prosecutors still come to court and ask for unnecessary adjournments, thereby allowing these persons to linger in custody,” he said.
He, therefore, urged the courts to seriously discourage any application which the court considered as clogging the wheels of justice.
In the same vein, another lawyer, Mr Emenike Nnoromele said that it was shameful in that lawyers were particularly responsible for the delay in the administration of justice.
He said that, even where the facts of a case is clear and required no argument, some lawyers still devised means of prolonging the case in court.
“To ensure speedy justice delivery, lawyers must desist from the habit of filing frivolous applications in court.
“It is no longer news that both civil and criminal cases linger on for several years in our courts with little or no progress; it is discouraging and must be remedied,” he said (NAN)
