“NBA President Afam Osigwe Advocates For Digitization Of Court Processes, Reduction Of Case Backlog At Supreme Court’s New Legal Year Ceremony”
The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, delivered a powerful speech at the Special Session of the Supreme Court to mark the beginning of the 2024/2025 legal year and the conferment of the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) on distinguished legal practitioners.
In his address, the Learned Silk congratulated Justice Kudirat Motonmori Olatokunbo Kekere-Ekun, CFR, on her appointment as the 23rd Chief Justice of Nigeria, noting that she is taking the helm at a time when much is expected from the judiciary to address issues such as depleted public revenue, terrorism, insecurity, corruption, and human rights violations.
The NBA President emphasized the importance of the judiciary in upholding the rule of law and ensuring the supremacy of the law. He called for judicial reforms to address the persistent issue of delays in justice delivery, make justice more affordable and accessible, reduce the backlog of cases, and modernize court systems through the use of technology.
He also urged the Chief Justice, as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC), to take steps to end the current trend of making the swearing-in of judicial officers a lavish affair, as it exposes them to undue influence from politicians and undermines the solemnity of the judiciary.
