By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan
An Ibadan based legal practitioner, Mr Olakunle Akintola has proposed that the Supreme Court’s appellate jurisdiction be narrowed to focus on constitutional matters and criminal cases.
Akintola, who is the former secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ibadan, said this on Thursday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.
Akintola, while speaking on ways to improve the judiciary, proposed that the constitution be amended to accommodate judicial reforms such as narrowing the appellate jurisdiction of the supreme court.
He contended that not all appeals from the Court of Appeal should proceed to the Supreme Court.
According to him, this would significantly reduce the Supreme Court’s caseload, as only constitutional and criminal matters should be entertained at that level.
On constitutional amendments, he supported state policing and local government autonomy to ensure even development.
“It will be good if the constitution can be amended to accommodate state policing.
“Also good, if the amendment can ensure the implementation of the grant for full administrative and financial autonomy to the 774 local governments to ensure even development,” he said.
The lawyer also called for financial autonomy for state judiciaries, merit-based appointments, and digitalisation of courts, to address challenges like corruption, infrastructure deficits, and lack of public confidence.
“Judiciary can be improved by ensuring that the judiciary is given full financial autonomy. The state judiciaries should be financially independent and not rely on any state governor for survival.
“Also, appointment of judicial officers should be based on merit. Political influence and nepotism should not be the basis for the appointment of judicial officers; competence should be the key prerequisite,” he said.
Akintola also emphasised that the courts needed to be fully digitalised and facilities that would aid quick, stress-free recording be put in place to eliminate longhand recording of proceedings by the judge.
The legal practitioner stressed that the judiciary must strive to restore the lost public confidence.
He however noted that the judiciary was undergoing reforms under the new leadership of the current Chief Justice of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
He expressed hope that with time, the reforms would play out in positive ways.
“The judiciary is improving compared to the last five years.
“Although, there are some notable challenges such as lack of confidence in the judicial system by the citizenry, judicial corruption, and misconduct among the judicial officers.
“There is also unnecessary delay in adjudication processes, congestion of cases in courts and infrastructural deficit.
“All these should be tackled to improve the judiciary sector and restore the lost public confidence,” he said.
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