Osibanjo tasks NBA on slow dispensation of justice

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) has urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to find solution to the protracted litigations involving corruption cases in the country.

Osibanjo, who spoke at the ongoing 58th Annual General Conference of the NBA in Abuja, lamented that despite the passage of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, criminal cases involving corruption were still moving at a snail pace in the courts largely due to poor case management.

While frowning at the nation’s legal process which according to him has not been able to deliver justice within a reasonable time frame, the vice president said that there was no way the country would move forward with a weak judicial system.

He further tasked members of the NBA and other stakeholders to do more by frowning at processes that slow down cases in court, especially those pertaining to corruption.

Osinbajo said, “There are those who say the judiciary is compromised. All of this has to do with our administration of justice system. We must accept some responsibility.

The Law Society in England for example, accepts responsibility for the discipline of lawyers, including those who engage in dilatory tactics in court.

“If a lawyer wants to delay a case, or has a strategy of either winning the case or hoping that years after the matter will be forgotten, that kind of lawyer will lose his shirt in any other jurisdiction. But here, it’s become an accepted fact. So it’s beyond government.

“All institutions such as the NBA must do something. And it really calls for self-regulation. Government is not going to come up with a law to change that.

This is something we’re in control of. We should be able to say that we’re going to have to put our foot down here,” Osibanjo added.

The Daily Times recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday declared open the 58th Annual General Conference of the NBA.

The theme of the 2018 annual conference is: “Transition, transformation and sustainable institutions,” with the following sub-themes; “political transition and governance,” “diversity and inclusion,” “technological disruptions,” “sustainable economic development,” and “rule of law and security”.