After about eight weeks’ vacation which terminated on September 12, the Federal High Court’s2016/2017 legal year commenced with special court sessions at the headquartersin Abuja.There weremany promises for the new legal year, including robust adjudication of cases, reports Senior Correspondent, ONYEWUCHI OJINNAKA.
Prior to the appointment of more judges last year, the courts had been trapped in the web of bloated cause lists pending in various divisions of the Federal High Court (FHC) across the country.The situation raised serious concern on the Bench, the Bar and the litigants.
However, efforts to combat the worrisome development was boosted by the appointment of new judges last year which impacted positively on the disposal of pending cases.Out of the 16,680 cases filed in the immediate past legal year – between September 2015 and June 2016 – 13,864 were disposed of by the judges.
Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, HonourableJustice Ibrahim NdahiAuta, gave the information during the special court session held at the chambers of the Federal High Court Complex, Abuja, to flag off the commencement of the new legal year.
“The appointment of new judges has helped the court to clear piled up cases in most of our courts across the country, while other judges are doing their best to dispose of cases before them, thereby ensuring the quick dispensation of justice in all our courts,” he said.
Auta commended the performance of the judges, saying:“If we continue in this manner, the issue of bloated cause lists will be a thing of the past.”
TheNichegathered that with the official opening of the FHC in Birnin-Kebbi and the appointment of 30 new judges, the FHC,which started with only one court in Lagos with five judges, now has 37 functional judicial divisions and 80 serving judges.
During the special court session, Justice Auta reminded judges that their work is the highest position of trust and confidence that God can give to any human being. He urged the judges to search their conscience before taking any judicial decision.
“You do not have to know all the law, but your decision must be one that even the party who lost will have cause to appreciate your intellect, scholarship and call to duty. You must therefore take decisions that you can defend before God,”Auta stressed.
He counselled all the judges to conduct themselves in accordance with the dictates and ethics of their profession as well as the Constitution.
Conflicting judgments
On the issue of conflicting judgments/decisions by judges of coordinate jurisdiction, Justice Autaheaped the blame on the doorsteps of both the Bar and the Bench. He decried the attitude whereby members of the Bar mislead judges by going ahead to file processes when they know that similar cases of same subject matter are pending in another court, without the knowledge of the judges.
Warning thatit is an offence for lawyers to do such a thing, he urged the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to look into it with a view to sanctioning such errant lawyers.
“On the part of the Bench, we are going to do something about it. We are not taking it likely because it constitutes a threat to the administration of justice.
“We will take this very seriously and even discuss it during our conference because it is an offence and not good for the administration of criminal justice,” he stressed.
Funding of Judiciary
According to Auta, lack of fund has stagnated the construction of the 20-courtroom court complex going on at Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, which when completed will have modern facilities and offices, including Bar office. The complex was billed for commissioning last year.
“Last year, I made a special request for special allocation for that project, but no responses. Till now, no funds,” he said.
He disclosed that for the past six years,while the allocation of the judiciary continued to dwindle, its work and fiscal responsibilities continued to go up, and particularly with the appointment of 30 new judges.
The Chief Justice asked the NBA president, Abubakar Mahmud (SAN), to help speak up for the special fund to complete the work on the Lagos court project.
On the welfare of judges and staff, Auta said the new judges went for detailed medical assessments, attended some local workshops and seminars aimed at exposing them to current developments in the law and administration of justice not only in Nigeria but all over the world.
He disclosed that the health and working conditions of judges are being given attention.
“We will continue to improve on what we are currently doing for the judges. We will continue to improve your working conditions as funds are released from the National Judicial Council (NJC).
“The comfort of our judges with respect to their health, vehicles and accommodation will continue to take first line charge in the expenditure profile of the court.
“I will continue to improve on the overall welfare of the judges and the staff, depending on availability of funds.”
Information services
Speaking on library and information services, Auta said the FHC upgraded the Docu-ware conversion of court judgments and rulings and successfully captured and judgments from 1973 to June 2015. He added that the expansion of the internet facility to all divisions is ongoing, and that all FHC divisions would be connected as soon as funds are available.
At the federal high court headquarters, the internet system is also being further enhanced by the installation of some information technology (IT) equipment.
Highlight of the opening ceremonies was the parade and Justice Auta’s inspection of the guard of honour mounted by a detachment of Nigeria Police.
