The House of Representatives has indicated interest to reconsider the existing laws in the country to ensure that the Supreme Court is no longer overburden.
Luke Onofiok, Chairman House Committee on Federal Judiciary, who gave the indication Monday at the inaugural meeting of the Committee in Abuja said the slow pace of justice delivery and backlog of matters was a cause for concern.
Onofiok noted that some matters spend a minimum lifespan of 10 years before their final adjudication at the apex court and part of the problem with Nigeria’s legal system which allows all matters to travel to the Supreme Court without limit.
He said that not all matters should merit the attention of the apex court like in developed democracies like the United States, where only constitutional and important matters reach the Supreme Court, hence general matters are handled by trial and appellate courts based on the precedents set by the Supreme Court.
The Chairman said that there were lots of reforms to be carried out in the judiciary and that the House Committee would in synergy with relevant bodies and stakeholders such as the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Ministry of Justice, the judiciary and civil society organisations invigorate the sector for effective performance and quick, efficient justice delivery to the common man.
“It is my desire to work with every member of the Committee in repositioning the judiciary and addressing the challenges confronting it. The role of over-sighting the judiciary entrusted on us is an enormous task. The enormity of the task is more demanding and pronounced in a developing democracy like ours where the independence and operations of our judiciary is constantly under threat.
“We need to continually advocate and protect the independence of our judiciary so that our judges will be bold and firm to dispense justice without fear and favour. By our laws, our judges are not allowed to speak freely. We owe our judiciary, and by extension, the people, a duty to speak up for the welfare of the judiciary.
“In the coming days, the Committee will develop a work plan that aligns with the House Legislative Agenda recently unveiled by the Rt. Hon. Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, which will operate as a guide for the Committee”, Onofiok.
