…NBA seeks judicial integrity

From Godwin Tsa Abuja

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has urged various courts in the country to commence virtual hearing given the workload and backlog of cases pending before the courts.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2025/2026 Legal Year of the Federal High Court, the CJN noted that the traditional courtroom methods alone can no longer sustain the weight of matters pending for adjudication.

She explained that the workload of the court continued to grow, not only in volume but also in complexity.

“Globalisation, technology-driven crimes, financial innovations, cross-border commercial disputes, terrorism-related matters and evolving regulatory frameworks now define much of the court’s docket. These realities demand new skills, firmer case management and rapid judicial adaptation.

“Digitisation must, therefore, move from being viewed as a project-based intervention to a core institutional priority. Virtual hearings, e-filing, electronic case tracking, secure record management and functional ICT support are no longer optional innovations; they are indispensable instruments of modern justice delivery.

“Digitisation enhances not only speed, but also accountability, predictability and public confidence. When court information is accurate, timely and easily accessible, uncertainty is reduced and trust is strengthened.

“The progress already made in this direction is commendable, but it must be deepened and sustained through continuous training, infrastructure investment and firm institutional commitment,” the CJN stated.

She commended the federal high court for using the occasion to unveil its Information Electronic Directory Table, Electronic Notice and Advertorial Display Screens.

“These systems represent more than technological upgrades; they embody a deliberate shift toward transparency, order and user-centred court administration.

“The Electronic Display Notice Board provides a secure and authoritative platform for the real-time dissemination of court-approved information, including daily and weekly cause lists, administrative circulars, official announcements and emergency or safety notices.

“By centralising and digitising this information, the court reduces confusion, curbs disorderly posting of notices and ensures that judicial officers, counsel, litigants and members of the public receive accurate and consistent information.

“Complementing this is the Electronic Display Directory Table, an interactive way-finding tool designed to assist visitors in navigating court premises efficiently.

“By enabling users to locate courtrooms, registries and departments independently, it reduces congestion, minimises delays and improves access to court services.

“Together, these systems promote dignity, efficiency, accessibility and institutional coherence, which are values that must define the modern Nigerian judiciary,” she added.

Speaking ahead of the 2027 general elections, the CJN warned judges against the abuse of interim injunctions.

She stressed that election-related cases must be handled with discipline, consistency and strict adherence to constitutional and statutory timelines.

“The nation looks to the courts for clarity and balance at such critical moments. This court has a crucial role to play in pre-election dispute resolution.

“Conflicting interim orders, forum shopping and the abuse of ex parte processes undermine the credibility of the entire justice system and weaken public confidence.

“Heads of divisions must, therefore, enforce procedural discipline firmly and fairly. The judiciary must never be perceived as a theatre for political gamesmanship; it must remain a sanctuary of constitutional order.

“Delay in the administration of justice remains one of the most persistent concerns expressed by both the bar and the public.

“While some delays are structural, many are preventable. A judge must not regard himself or herself as a passive moderator of proceedings.

“The courtroom requires guidance, firmness and purposeful control. Effective case management is not optional; it is central to judicial responsibility.

“Accordingly, the National Judicial Council will continue to strengthen oversight of case progression, not as a tool of intimidation, but as a means of supporting institutional discipline and improving justice delivery,” the CJN added.

On his part, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, revealed that 161,999 cases were pending and carried over from 2023/2024 to the 2024/2025 legal year.

He disclosed that within the period, 19, 925 cases were filed, which brought the total number of pending cases to 181,924.

“From this number, 16, 019 were disposed of, leaving 165,905 pending cases. The breakdown of the 16,019 cases disposed of is as follows: civil cases – 3,113; criminal cases – 5,818; cotions – 3,724 and fundamental human rights cases remain 3,364, bringing the total to 16,019 cases.

“Therefore, 44,650 civil cases, 44,078 criminal cases, 46,228 motions and 30,949 fundamental rights enforcement applications, remained pending at the end of the last legal year.

“From the above analysis, it is glaring that we have done well in the face of our expansive jurisdiction and enormous workload. Our outstanding performance is not only as reflected in the foregoing figures, but is also reflected in other sectors of this country,” Tsoho stated.

On its part, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has expressed the need for the judiciary to improve on its institutional integrity.

Speaking through it’s President, Mazi Adam Osigwe, the association stated, “Recent patterns have created troubling perceptions that strike at the core of judicial legitimacy,” the association noted, adding that, “one of the deeply distressing frustrations endured daily by litigants, lawyers and ordinary citizens, is the unpredictability of court sittings.”

It said: “Every day, Nigerians rise before dawn, navigate long distances, brave insecurity on the highways, spend scarce resources on transportation and appear in court with the hope that their matter will finally move forward, only to be met with the disheartening announcement that ‘the court is not sitting’, ‘your case will not go on, so take a date,’ or even waiting for hours only for one’s matter to be adjourned off record.

“For many, this means wasted time, wasted resources, renewed anxiety about the progress of their case or loss of confidence in the ability of the court to deliver timely justice.

“More critically, this experience chips away public faith in the judicial system. Justice that is unpredictable in its administration risks becoming inaccessible in its outcome.

“The constitutional guarantee of fair hearing within a reasonable time, enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, cannot be achieved where litigants repeatedly encounter avoidable, unexplained disruptions,” the NBA added