Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) urged governors to provide the judiciary fiscal autonomy on Tuesday.
He said that they may boost their economies with the help of the constitutional amendments.
According to him, the Fifth Alteration Numbers 15, 16, and 17 Acts of 2023 are what allowed for the revisions.
The modifications granted states control over railroads, prison services, and the production, distribution, and transmission of electricity.
Read Also: Accelerate the appointment of fresh Justices to the Supreme Court- AGF tells NJC
At the General Council of the Bar meeting and conference of the Body of Attorneys General (BOSAG) in Abuja, Fagbemi delivered a speech.
“It has become imperative for states of the federation to take maximum benefit of these constitutional alterations by developing their legal and policy frameworks on these legislative items,” stated the AGF in reference to the recent constitutional revisions.
Any society’s entire growth, stability, and sustainability are directly impacted by the efficiency and usefulness of its judicial system.
In order to demonstrate our sincere and comprehensive dedication to the principles of democracy and good governance, I implore my esteemed colleagues to see to it that the financial autonomy guaranteed by Sections 121(3) and (4) of the Constitution is fully implemented for the judiciary throughout all of our states.
In this context, we should work to significantly increase the judiciary’s capabilities, both in terms of staff and physical space. In particular, we should invest in the technologies required to automate essential court functions and eventually put in place a digital justice delivery system.
According to him, the federal government has taken steps to stop debt from resulting from arbitration awards and judgements against the government and its agencies.
According to his explanation, the initiative entails “a collaborative framework with specialist firms to enable legal officers involved in drafting memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and other binding agreements to acquire required skills to identify potential areas of liability or dispute, which could result in avoidable costs and judgement debt associated with litigation or arbitration.”
Fagbemi emphasised the importance of bringing the fight against corruption to the states as well.
“Making sure the plan is embraced and driven at the subnational level is one of the lessons I learned from the implementation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, 2017/2022,” he continued.
“This is a departure from the current anti-corruption strategies that are exclusively focused on law enforcement and federal regulatory agencies.”
Senator Mohammed Monguno, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, stated that the 10th Senate was dedicated to starting multifaceted changes that would reshape the judiciary.
He asked BOSAG members to provide suggestions for new legislation to be passed and for existing ones to be changed.
One of them is whether or not the minister of justice and commissioner for justice should be separated from the office of the attorney general.
Senator Monguno continued, saying, “This meeting is appropriate given the problems facing the judiciary right now and the pressing need to address new legal issues that are impacting the country.”
“This is with specific reference to the implementation of the Data Protection Act 2023 and factors affecting the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act 2015, as well as conflicting rulings that have recently emerged from election petition tribunals and the Court of Appeal.”
Olumide Osoba, the chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, and Legal Matters, pleaded with BOSAG members to guarantee that all Nigerians have equitable access to the legal system.
“It is our moral and constitutional obligation to guarantee that every person, irrespective of their origins or social standing, has equitable access to justice,” he declared.
“We have to work to heal the division and advance a society that is more just, equal, and inclusive. Creating a justice system that is fair and considerate of the interests of the weaker members of our society should be our main objective.
We must take a multifaceted approach to do this, involving coordination and cooperation between civil society organisations and all branches of government.
“We must make investments in community-based paralegal services, legal assistance, and technologically advanced solutions to increase access to justice.
By interacting with underserved populations and attending to their problems, we must also seek to increase confidence and trust in the legal system.
“The overrepresentation of minorities in the criminal justice system is another important issue that we need to address.
According to studies, people from marginalised areas are more likely than others to be detained, accused, and given lengthier jail sentences.
“This discriminatory system is intolerable and goes against the fundamentals of fairness.
“Addressing the underlying causes of crime, such as poverty, inequality, and social isolation, is equally imperative.
We can make society more inclusive and egalitarian by making investments in social welfare, healthcare, and education. This will lower crime and improve access to the legal system.
