LAGOS- The Convener of the Fight Against Corruption in the Judiciary (FIACIJ), Mr Bayo Akinlade, has said long adjournments by courts was a major factor hampering justice delivery in Nigeria.
Akinlade made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
”One of the major clog in the wheels of our justice system, is the issue of adjournments of cases by the courts which are mostly long .
”Long adjournments have more than ever, is a major draw back to speedy administration of justice in the country.
‘I will blame the legal practitioners for not doing enough to avoid any seeming threat to upholding law and order in the system..
“Cases at our superior courts are suffering from long adjournments, putting on hold, cases at the lower courts and no one seems concerned.
“We often complain that magistrates’ courts were slow and that cases were not assigned on time at the High Court, but, what is the point of a justice system if it’s slow”‘ he said.
He noted that if there is an increase in the number of judges and magistrates across the nation. then, certainly, there should be abundant qualified judicial officers to speedily dispense justice.
Akinlade, consequently, urged judges to use their revered positions to right the wrongs of society and make the judiciary a shinning light and truely the last resort of the common man.
He also urged the legal practitioners to always stand against the tide of injustice and be a true reflection and mouthpiece of the down trodden.
NAN reports that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 , seeks to revolutionise the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria.
One of the objectives of the Act, as contained in Section 1, is to ensure speedy trials, and the efficient management of the criminal justice system in the country.
The ACJA recognises the defects in our criminal justice system, one of which is the frequent delays which characterised criminal trials.
It states that the average time a criminal trial proceeding takes prior to the enactment of the Act is four to six years. (NAN)
