Judges Are Overburdened, Says Ex-Minister Of Justice Kanu Agabi

Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Kanu Agabi, has expressed concern over the hardships faced by judges in Nigeria, attributing their plight to the nation’s lack of self-reliance.

Speaking at a recent event, Agabi argued that instead of focusing on building more courts, prisons, or appointing additional judges, the federal government should prioritize constructing schools and fostering self-reliance.

“The nation is not self-reliant,” Agabi stated. “If the nation is self-reliant, the workload on judges will reduce. Judges today have no lives of their own; they are suffering. The problems we create by not being self-reliant multiply the work for judges.”

Agabi emphasized that improving education and empowering citizens to be self-sufficient would alleviate the strain on the judiciary and reduce societal issues that lead to litigation.

Delivering a lecture titled *”The Importance of Judicial Infrastructure to Adjudication,”* Minister of Works, Engineer Nweze Dave Umahi, highlighted the critical role of judicial infrastructure in improving access to justice.

Umahi stressed that better roads, modern courtrooms, reliable power supply, and digital infrastructure are essential to reducing delays in adjudication and enhancing the productivity of judicial officers.

“The availability of judicial infrastructure ensures equal and free access to justice while promoting transparency and accountability,” Umahi noted. “This will result in faster case resolutions and improve the overall justice delivery system.”

Agabi commended the resilience of judicial officers despite the challenges they face. He also acknowledged the federal government’s ongoing efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s *Renewed Hope* agenda to address judicial infrastructure deficits.

According to Umahi, the administration has embarked on initiatives to improve road networks, construct modern court facilities, enhance power supply, and invest in digital tools to bolster judicial efficiency. Additionally, measures such as better housing and welfare packages for judicial officers aim to promote their independence and operational effectiveness.

“These reforms are pivotal for ensuring justice delivery is cost-effective, transparent, and accessible,” Umahi concluded.

Both Agabi and Umahi called for sustained investment in education, infrastructure, and judicial welfare as the cornerstone of a justice system that can meet the needs of a self-reliant and equitable society.