Reps move to address delay in justice delivery

The House of Representatives has resolved to explore avenues aimed at addressing the delay in justice delivery in the country.

The decision followed an adoption of a motion sponsored by Mr. Ganiyu Adele Ayuba, during a plenary on Wednesday presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abass.

The lawmakers mandated its Constitutional Review chaired by the Deputy Speaker of the House, Mr. Benjamin Kalu to look into the matter and prefer a solution accordingly.

Ayuba while moving the motion expressed concern that delays in the judicial system are gradually undermining the public’s trust in the judiciary.

Noting that the development poses significant challenges to democratic and economic progress, he remarked that in some States of the Federation, cases in trial courts that should be resolved within months last four to five years before judgement is delivered

He argued that the ugly trend which is antithetical to fair hearing as enshrined in Section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) leads to long-term detentions of suspects, prolonged chieftaincy disputes, and unresolved commercial litigation.

He stressed that public confidence in the court system may be damaged if immediate action is not taken to address the backlog in the justice system and administration, which could force people to decide to take the law into their own hands.