National Justice Summit: Akpabio Advocates For Reform Of AG’s Role In Judgment Enforcement Against FG
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, called for significant reforms in Nigeria’s justice system during the National Summit on Justice 2024 in Abuja.
One area Akpabio highlighted for amendment is the statutory requirement for a judgment creditor to obtain the consent of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) before enforcing a judgment debt against the federal government.
Speaking at the summit, Akpabio described this requirement as a bottleneck that delays justice and undermines the autonomy of the judicial system.
He proposed replacing the need for the AGF’s consent with a mandatory notification system. Under this system, relevant authorities would notify the AGF in writing upon receiving a judgment against the government. The AGF would then have a specified period, such as 30 days, to respond. If there is no response within this period, the judgment would be executed automatically.
Akpabio emphasized the importance of prompt action to prevent undue delays in justice delivery, especially in cases where the decision comes from a final court. He stated that reforms like these foster trust in the justice system and improve overall efficiency in legal proceedings involving the government.
Acknowledging the delays in the court system, Akpabio promised parliamentary approvals for budgets aimed at implementing judicial reforms. He advocated for the deployment of digital technology in adjudicating, citing the need to build a justice system that fits the 21st century.
The justice sector reform summit, declared open by President Bola Tinubu and represented by Vice-President Kashim Shetima, brought together lawyers, judges, heads of security agencies, and other dignitaries to brainstorm ways to tackle challenges in Nigeria’s justice system. Among the attendees were Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, Deputy Senate President Bala Jibrin, President of the Court of Appeal Monica Dongban-Mensem, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court John Tsoho, Chief of Defence Staff Christopher Musa, and Chairpersons of the EFCC and the ICPC.
