CJN orders judges to adopt active case management to curb trial delays

Kudirat Kekere-Ekun,  Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), has directed judges across the country to adopt active case management strategies as part of efforts to reduce prolonged litigation, improve judicial efficiency and strengthen public confidence in the nation’s justice system.

Kekere-Ekun gave the directive Monday at the opening of the National Workshop on Case Management for Judges of the Superior Courts of Record, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja, noting that delays in the justice system have continued to undermine access to justice while creating uncertainty for businesses and investors.

She said, “To the ordinary litigant, justice delayed often translates into justice denied. Delays also create uncertainty for businesses and investors while eroding confidence in the rule of law,”.

According to the CJN, the effectiveness of the judiciary should be measured not only by the quality of its judgments but also by the speed and efficiency with which cases are concluded.

She identified prolonged litigation, frequent adjournments, procedural abuse and poor scheduling practices as major factors responsible for case backlogs and declining public trust in the courts.

Kekere-Ekun said the workshop was designed to equip judges with practical tools for effective docket control, electronic case management, scheduling, judgment delivery timelines and other best practices aimed at improving justice delivery.

She urged judicial officers to exercise greater control over proceedings by enforcing timelines, making effective use of pre-trial procedures and adopting structured case management practices that have become global benchmarks for judicial performance.

The CJN also called for wider adoption of technology in court administration, including electronic filing, virtual hearings, digital case-tracking systems and automated scheduling, describing them as critical to improving efficiency without compromising fairness and due process.

Drawing from experiences in the United Kingdom, Singapore and South Africa, she noted that active judicial leadership and structured case management have significantly reduced delays and improved court efficiency in those jurisdictions.

She observed that Nigeria’s expanding commercial activities, increasing constitutional litigation and rising public expectations have placed greater pressure on the judiciary, making procedural discipline and continuous reforms imperative.

Kekere-Ekun urged judges to identify procedural bottlenecks within their courts and embrace reforms that would accelerate case disposal while preserving the integrity of the judicial process.

She expressed confidence that the workshop would equip participants with practical solutions to improve judicial productivity and build a more efficient, technology-driven judiciary.

Earlier, the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, Justice Babatunde Adejumo, said proactive case management remains one of the most effective tools for reducing case backlogs and improving the administration of justice.

Adejumo said modern judicial practice requires judges to move beyond their traditional adjudicatory role by actively supervising cases from commencement to conclusion to eliminate unnecessary delays.

He noted that effective case management enhances access to justice, promotes fairness and strengthens public confidence in the judiciary.

According to him, continuous judicial education and leadership training remain essential for equipping judges with contemporary case management skills needed to improve court performance.

He urged participants to actively engage in the workshop and apply the lessons to improve justice delivery across their respective courts.