HiiL Launch Of Justice Needs And Satisfaction (JNS) Nigeria 2023: NBA President Gives Feedback And Speaks On Justice
President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Y.C Maikyau SAN, on Tuesday, attended the launch of the Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) Nigeria 2023. The event was organized by the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL).
In his remarks, Maikyau noted that Nigeria has a working Justice system. According to him, the country has a constitution and laws enacted pursuant to the constitution. He stressed that justice is important for our existence as a nation, quoting Uthman Dan Fodio when he said “A people can exist without religion but a people cannot exist without Justice.”
He appreciated the Legal Aid Council for recognizing Prof Chief Chimezie Ikeazor, SAN after whom the council named its headquarters building, in recognition of his contributions towards the establishment of the council.
Maikyau called on HiiL to partner with the NBA on the Justice sector, particularly with the NBA Judiciary Committee to fashion out ways to project the Justice sector. He further suggested that HiiL look into the justice sector report of the NBA Judiciary committee which was held in January 2022.
The President said the NBA would establish a Pro bono Centre in the NBA. He also clarified his statement on NBA offering pro bono service to INEC and said some members of the public misinterpreted him at some point. He noted that, “absent the institutions that deliver Justice, we would not have a Country, that when anarchy comes, we would not recognize personalities and dignitaries here today.”
Mrs Ijeoma Nwafor, who anchored the event spoke on behalf of HiiL in accepting the President’s offer of partnership and appreciated the NBA’s stance on the Justice system.
The NBA President attended the event with the 2nd Vice President of the Association, Mr Chukwuemeka Clement Ugo, Chairman of branches of NBA in Abuja and other members of the bar.
Explaining why court cases are hardly concluded timeously, the President said there is need for constitutional amendments to reduce matters that travel to the Supreme Court. He proposed that electoral matters should be assigned to a special court created for that purpose to avoid situations where other matters are relegated to the background and therefore suffer because of election related matters which are time sensitive. Moreso, the salaries and emoluments of judges should be increased adequately. These amongst others would reduce the delays experienced in our court system.
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