Poor infrastructure delays criminal justice system – Prof Ahmed

Poor infrastructure in the judicial sector is responsible for the delay in administration of criminal justice system in the country, a legal luminary has said. “There are more than 170 million people in Nigeria, and the approximate number of judges for the population is 35,000 which is grossly inadequate,” the former dean, faculty of law, […]

Poor infrastructure in the judicial sector is responsible for the delay in administration of criminal justice system in the country, a legal luminary has said.

“There are more than 170 million people in Nigeria, and the approximate number of judges for the population is 35,000 which is grossly inadequate,” the former dean, faculty of law, Bayero University Kano, Professor A. B. Ahmed said.

He was speaking at a workshop organised for the Nigeria police legal officers/prosecutors and investigators by the Force Headquarters in collaboration with Bastion Chambers.

“The main reason for the shortage is caused by government delay in appointing new judges,” the don said.

“Also, some of the judicial personnel clearly show indifference and lack of commitment in the performance of their duties. Some sit late and rise early and in some jurisdictions particularly those in the rural areas, go to court only three times in a week,” the law professor said.

He decried the attitude of some lawyers for seeking unnecessary adjournments. “Some judges give long adjournments for a simple ruling which may not involve any complicated analysis,” he said.

Speaking on infrastructure, he said: “In Nigeria today, there is no adequate infrastructure in the judicial system, especially the lower courts which carry the heavier loads in the circle of administration of justice.

“This is the age of technology but our judicial system has not been provided with the technical assistance of faxes, dicto-phones, and other such devices. Almost all the courts have heaps of rotten files in their basement.”

He said that even courtrooms are inadequate, stationeries where available are rationed, record books are no more available and basic needs to make the system function are not available.

The Registrar of Chattered Institute of Mediation, Segun Ogunyannwo, said the growing dissatisfaction with the criminal justice system suggests “a growing need to preserve and strengthen customary laws and traditional practices to address some of these challenges.

The coordinator of the workshop, Barr. Muhammad Kudu Nakodi said the training which is in its last phase has equipped the officers with various techniques in the discharge of their duties.