The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank, Adekunle Sonola, has declared that the public confidence in Nigeria’s legal system must be rebuilt.
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This, he said, will impact positively on businesses and investments.
Sonola, made the declaration as a keynote speaker at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch 2023 yearly dinner in Lagos at the weekend.
The MD, who spoke on the “favourable investment and business environment through legal and policy reforms”, said timely and efficient delivery of justice is imperative for fostering a conducive business environment and instilling confidence in the legal process.
Suggesting ways forward, he said: “Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) must be a critical part of the system. The legal system must be end-to-end automated as much as practicable.”
He insisted that an effective legal system must be designed to prevent opportunistic loan defaulters from exploiting vulnerabilities within the system, adding that loan defaulters these days get happy when they are sued because they know that the matter won’t end on time.
While suggesting that the legal system should be made accessible to all Nigerians regardless of their social class, age or gender, Sonola warned that reforms must keep up with the dynamic economic and social environment.
According to him, initiatives around reforms will not achieve much if enforcement is not incorporated.
On the issue of business ownership and control, he noted that there is a need to review the relevant parts of the law to address impediments around them for stronger market inclination.
Sonola pointed out that the government is currently working on streamlining tax and levies payables by businesses to about nine from the current figure, which is 95.
Speaking on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and Nigeria’s preparedness, he said: “With AfCFTA, there is the drive towards regional economic development which will lead to increased productivity, job creation, etc. Therefore, our laws should evolve to ensure that it captures the regional diversity.
“Also, to improve social relatability and accessibility, it is important to ensure our laws relate with our socio-cultural norms particularly in relation to the system of administration.
“Our laws can allow certain commercial disputes i.e., petty trading and Micro businesses to be decided at the level of the traditional justice system.
“The Gacaca Court in Rwanda (traditional community-based Justice system) processed almost two million cases for crimes of genocide in 15 years (about 130,000 cases yearly). The feat is attributed to the social embeddedness of the system.”
Earlier, the chairman, NBA Lagos Dinner Committee, Adeleke Alex-Adedipe, who welcomed participants in his remarks, said the event was an opportunity for lawyers to unwind after many months of hard work.
He urged young lawyers to be active in their various branches. “Let me use this opportunity to encourage young lawyers to play an active role in their respective branches because there are many opportunities available,” he advised.
The NBA Lagos branch chairman, Olabisi Makanjuola in his welcome address reeled out some of the achievements of his administration, which include court monitoring, international secondment, continuing legal education, constituting building committee for the Bar Project, enhancing the Bar and Bench relations as well as taking care of the welfare of members.
“As we bask in the warmth of camaraderie tonight, the Yearly Bar Dinner emerges as a cornerstone event deeply rooted in the rich traditions of the Bar.
“It is not merely a gathering but a tradition woven into the fabric of fostering goodwill between the Bar and the Bench. Our tradition of inviting members of the Bench to our dinners is a testament to our belief that when lawyers and judges share moments of conviviality, it bridges the widening gap between us in real-time,” he stated.
The wrap up of the event featured award presentations to notable judges for judicial excellence and individual recognitions of lawyers in different categories.
Among the awardees are the Attorney General of Abia State and the immediate past chairman of the branch, Ikechukwu Uwanna, past chairmen of the branch, Chukwuka Ikwuazom (SAN), Omoyemi Lateef Akangbe (SAN) and Justice Matthias Dawodu, among others.
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