*Harps On Improved Digitalization For Justice System
"As CJN, Agabi, Others Laud Umahi
The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, has revealed the decisive measures been taken by the President Bola Tinubu-led Renewed Hope administration to address the accumulated judicial infrastructure deficits in the country.
He made the revelation during his paper presentation on the day 4 of the 2024 Court of Appeal Justices Annual Conference held at the Court of Appeal Headquarters, Abuja on 12th December 2024.
His paper was captioned: “The Importance of Judicial Infrastructure to Adjudication”
The measures taken, he said, included the provision of enduring access roads nationwide, modern court structures, increased power supply, provision of other electronic infrastructure and the judicial welfare being made available to enhance the operational efficiency of the Judiciary.
He stressed that judicial Infrastructure is crucial for the stimulation of effective and efficient justice delivery system in every democratic dispensation.
According to him, improved accessibility to justice system through judicial infrastructure digitalization was an administrative imperative of government at all levels.
Sen Umahi, according to his Special Adviser (Media), Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, said, “The Renewed Hope agenda of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is anchored on a transformational policy thrust aimed at revolutionizing the critical infrastructure that will stimulate socio-economic development.
"The infrastructure necessary to ensure delivery of justice and effective adjudication are a part of the policy thrust of Mr. President.
“Mr. President's efforts to enhance the operational efficiency of the Judiciary through housing programmes, enhanced welfare package for the judicial officers, creation of enduring road infrastructure, investment in power and digital infrastructure should be commended.
"All these efforts will have a multiplier effect on the outcome of adjudication as it guarantees accelerated leaning, reduces cost of justice delivery and promotes the independence of the Judiciary.” Sen Umahi stated
He pointed out that improved access roads, court rooms/judicial quarters, power supply, electronic infrastructure will reduce delays in adjudication, promote qualitative and quantitative judicial productivity and ultimately improve justice delivery system.
He said, “The availability of the needed judicial infrastructure catalyzes equal and free access to justice as well as the speedy dispensation of justice.
The Minister also praised the resilience of judicial officers in Nigeria and the profoundness of their adjudication despite inherent challenges.
The Minister, in a statement by Mohammed A. Ahmed, Director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, further revealed that the Renewed Hope Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, inherited a total of 18,932.50 kilometres of ongoing projects with a total of 2,064 subsisting contracts, some of which have lasted for 18 to 20 years, valued at N14,424,982,425,616.40k as of 29th May, 2023.
He also revealed that President Tinubu’s roadmap on road infrastructure centres on how to restore the confidence of Nigerians on the Federal roads.
He also acknowledged challenges such as funding constraints and bureaucratic delays, stressing the importance of innovative approaches, and partnerships to overcoming them, stressing that the Ministry is proactively exploring opportunities for enhanced collaboration with the judiciary and the private sector toward ensuring sustainable infrastructure development.
He, finally, expressed gratitude to the judiciary for its partnership, while pledging continued dedication to national development.
Earlier, in a Keynote Address, the Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kereke-Ekun harped on the importance of judicial introspection, ethical conduct and leveraging technology for a more efficient and effective system.
She highlighted the need for multi jurge deliberations to improve appellate courts’ decisions and stressed the adoption of innovative practices like alternative dispute resolution and improved case management to address judicial back logs and public trust issues.
Speaking at the occasion, the Chairman of the session and former Honourable Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Kanu G. Agabi, SAN, commended the Judiciary in Nigeria for upholding the tenets of their constitutional mandate despite daunting challenges.
He called on the anti-corruption agencies to find more proactive and more productive measures of fighting corruption noting that government at all levels must be intentional in making Nigeria self reliant.
He said “We cannot proceed on the premise that we should build more courts or build more prisons or appoint more judges. No. The proper approach is to build more schools, make the nation self-reliant.
"The nation is not self-reliant. If the nation is self-reliant, the work of the judges will be reduced. But if we are not self-reliant, of course the kinds of problems that multiply work for the judges. The judges have no lives of their own. They are suffering, I can tell you”. He said
Panel of discussants on the paper presentation were Honourable Justice P. O. Ige, JCA (Rtd) and Honourable Justice J. G. Abundaga, JCA.
Recognizing his contributions, the Honourable Minister of Works, Sen Umahi, was honoured at the event as ' Fellow of the Court of Appeal' (FCA).