Quick justice dispensation: Appeal Court presents 2014 practice direction

At the official presentation of the practice direction recently in Abuja, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, said the era of lawyers employing technicalities to stall cases at the trial courts by using the appeal court was over.In her opening speech, Bulkachuwa said, “The Court of Appeal (Fast  Track) Practice Direction , […]

At the official presentation of the practice direction recently in Abuja, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, said the era of lawyers employing technicalities to stall cases at the trial courts by using the appeal court was over.
In her opening speech, Bulkachuwa said, “The Court of Appeal (Fast  Track) Practice Direction , 2014 is a set of directions with the fundamental objective of enabling the court to deal with fast track appeals quickly and efficiently through the introduction of Active Case Management.”
She further said that the Active Case Management process enjoined the court to adopt the best skills and case management techniques to secure efficient and speedy administration of justice.
Bulkachuwa further explained that the procedure would kick against “frivolous applications for adjournments.”
She thanked the members of the Rules Committee of the court on the practice direction.
“I would therefore like to seize this opportunity to sincerely appreciate the Chairman of Rules Committee, Hon. Justice Amiru Sanusi, its members… for their tenacity ensuring that the Practice Direction sees the light of the day,” she said.
Speaking in the same vein, Justice Amina Augie of the Lagos Division of the Appeal Court said it was the court’s tireless efforts to fast track justice administration in the country’s judiciary, adding that the Appeal Court was the engine of the judiciary.
She decried the attitude of lawyers who find loopholes around the Practice Direction by using the Appeal Court to stall cases at the trial court through interlocutory appeals, while leaving the substantive matter to suffer at the trial court.
While applauding the President of the Appeal Court for the initiative, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta said that the fortune of the country lies with the judiciary.
He urged judges to be in charge of their courts.
“We will not allow lawyers to mess up our courts. We have to be on our guards to do our jobs within the ambit of the law.”
Auta added that interlocutory appeals stall the substantive matter at the trial court.
Similarly, Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Justice Buka Ibrahim, lauded the efforts of the court in bringing about the procedure.
He said: “We tried our hands on a similar exercise but lawyers frustrated it.
“If the leadership of the judiciary will cooperate with judicial officers, then we will overcome these challenges.”
Ibrahim urged judges to unite by telling lawyers that they are abusing the rules.
General Secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Osigwe commended the Appeal Court for the initiative, describing it as a “noble” idea that would guard against technicalities that are geared towards frustrating the hearing of cases.
The occasion was attended by several justices of the Appeal Court as well as judges of both the federal and FCT High courts and lawyers.