Legal Updates

HiiL Launch of Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) Nigeria 2023

Published

1 year ago

April 25, 2023

Stella Charles Akupue

NBA President gives feedback and speaks on Justice

The JNS Nigeria 2023 report will shed light on the state of people-Centre Justice in Nigeria. The information is essential for understanding the population’s needs, identifying areas that require headway, and monitoring the progress of various justice initiatives.

The occasion brought together stakeholders from various sectors, including government representatives, judiciary members, civil society organizations, innovators and media houses.

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The NBA was represented by the President, Y. C Maikyau, OON, SAN, who, in giving his feedback at the HiiL launch of Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) Nigeria held at the Abuja Continental Hotel (Sheraton), thanked Prof Nnamdi Obiaeri, the last speaker for correcting the impression that could have been drawn from the previous speaker that Nigeria does not have a working justice system.

Mr Maikyau said Nigeria has a constitution and laws enacted under the body. However, what is more critical is the thought behind the need for Justice. Justice is essential for our existence as a nation. Mr Maikyau quoted Uthman Dan Fodio when he said, “A people can exist without religion, but a people cannot exist without Justice”.

HiiL Launch of Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) Nigeria 2023:

He commended the exercise of Hiil for going to the people to check their peculiar needs and how they access Justice. In highlighting his points on the essence of Justice and our call, he appreciated the Legal Aid Council for recognizing Prof Chief Chimezie Ikeazor, SAN, for naming the legal aid Council headquarters building after him in recognition of his contributions towards establishing the Legal Aid Council.

He stated that before now, lawyers did not collect fees for the services they rendered, which was what Prof Chimezie represented to the public. The motivation is usually the call for Justice. Mr Maikyau SAN recounted how a prisoner who escaped during the Kuje Jailbreak called the legal officer who represented him in court to inform him that he was out of jail and needed the legal aid office to take him back to the prison.

This, according to him, showed the comfort the convict had around his lawyer, which was commendable. Mr Maikyau called on HiiL to partner with the NBA on the Justice sector, particularly with the NBA Judiciary Committee, to fashion out ways to project the Justice sector.

He further suggested that HiiL look into the Justice sector report of the NBA Judiciary Committee held in January 2022. The President said the NBA would establish a Pro bono Centre in the NBA. He clarified his statement on the NBA offering pro bono service to INEC and said some members of the public misinterpreted him at some point.

He noted, “Absent the institutions that deliver Justice, we would not have a Country, that when anarchy comes, we would not recognize personalities and dignitaries here today.”

Mrs Ijeoma Nwafor, who anchored the event, spoke on behalf of HiiL in accepting the President’s offer of partnership and appreciated the NBA’s stance on the Justice system.

The NBA President attended the event with the 2nd Vice President of the Association, Mr Chukwuemeka Clement Ugo, Chairmen of branches of NBA in Abuja and other members of the bar.

The President, speaking with media correspondents, was asked why cases take so long to be concluded in Courts; the President said no doubt the Courts are inundated with patients. Still, there was a need for constitutional amendments to reduce matters that travel to the Supreme Court.

He proposed assigning Electoral issues to a special court to avoid situations where chronic cases suffer because of time-sensitive election-related matters. More so, the salaries and emoluments of judges should be increased adequately. These, amongst others, would reduce the delays experienced in our court system.

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