Maikyau, SAN Suggests Way Forward For Speedy Trial Of Cases At Roundtable For Heads Of Court

The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu C. Maikyau, SAN has said that one of the fundamental ideals upon which the concept of justice is founded is that it must be dispensed without delay. This, regrettably is not the case in the Nigerian judicial process, he said.

The NBA President reiterated this fact at the Roundtable for Heads of Court that held today at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja with theme: “Towards Achieving a Better Service Delivery in the Judiciary.”

Stating that the theme is quite dear to his heart, Maikyau, SAN opined that conversations around the chosen theme could not have come at a better time and that speedy dispensation of justice is a matter that is listed as a priority in his administration.

Speaking on the topic, “Speedy Trial of Cases: The Way Forward”, the NBA President listed a number of causes of delay in the judiciary such as Long-hand Recording, Court Congestion, Counsel/Litigant’s delay, Fiscal Autonomy, etc.

Not stopping at the problem, the highly cerebral learned Silk proffered some solutions to these challenges to include audio/visual recordings of cases, speech-to-text recordings, adoption of ADR mechanisms, heavy penalty for frivolous suits, better funding of the judiciary, attention to welfare of judicial officers, appointment of more judges, and specialisation of courts, amongst others.

While re-echoing the commitment of the NBA to work with the bench in improving justice delivery in Nigeria, Maikyau called on all “Ministers in the Temple of Justice”- the Bar and the Bench, to make more concerted efforts to tackle whatever impediments stand in the way of attainment of justice.