SANS, jurists want CJN’S office unbundled, suggest other reforms

• As CJN underscores importance of lower courts

SENIOR lawyers and jurists have called for sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s judicial system to tackle the challenges facing the justice system in Nigeria.

A communiqué, signed by J. S. Okutepa, SAN; Adamson Adeboro, SAN; Mbasekei Martin Obono, Victoria Benson and Lillian Okenwa, advocated bold actions to revamp the judiciary, emphasising the need for accountability and transparency.

The lawyers stated the need to unbundle the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria ( CJN), particularly in roles such as chairmanship of the National Judicial Council ( NJC), Federal Judicial Service Commission ( JSC), National Judicial Institute ( NJI) and Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee ( LPPC).

The communiqué from the Tap Initiative conference on “Impact of judicial accountability on democratic resilience and public trust in the legal system” held in Abuja on March 1, stressed the urgency to strengthen the integrity requirements for appointing judges, enhance the National Judicial Council’s capacity to hold judicial officers accountable and uphold the existing code of ethics for judicial officers.

Participants underscored the importance of continuous dialogue and periodic reviews to ensure the judiciary’s accountability remains a priority.

They also called on Nigerians to actively engage in shaping the future of the legal system, with a mutual goal of rebuilding public trust in the judiciary.

MEANWHILE, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has underscored the critical role played by lower courts in ensuring access to justice for citizens at the grassroots level.