Chief Justice of Nigeria, Olukayode Ariwoola, emphasized the judiciary’s responsibility to deliver justice to Nigerians, acknowledging that for many citizens, justice remains elusive.
Speaking at the National Summit on Justice in Abuja, jointly organized by the Ministry of Justice and the Nigerian Bar Association, Ariwoola urged judicial officers to critically examine the legal framework and advocate bold legislative reforms.
He stressed the importance of leveraging technological innovation to address issues such as corruption, inefficiency, and undue influence within the judiciary.
Ariwoola also highlighted the significant milestones achieved by the judiciary under his leadership.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, in his speech, pledged to prioritize collaboration in formulating and implementing the national policy on justice.
Fagbemi traced the origins of the national judicial summit to 2017, noting its purpose to provide a platform for analyzing, reviewing, and assessing issues affecting the administration of justice in Nigeria.
He emphasized that the summit serves as a forum for building consensus to advance the justice sector, thus contributing to socio-economic development.
Dignitaries present at the event included the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Yakubu Maikyau, and the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongbam-Mendez, along with other Heads of Superior Courts.
The summit aimed to discuss ways to reduce the time and number of cases reaching the Supreme Court, thereby relieving the apex court of its burden.
Additionally, various other issues affecting the judiciary were slated for discussion during the two-day summit.
