The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law, (NBA SPIDEL) concluded its 3-day annual conference on a high note with resolutions which amongst others urged  the judiciary to maintain it's integrity  whilst ensuring that the will of the majority is not substituted with the will of the minority.


 The  conference, attended by who-is-who in the Bar and Bench, proffered far reaching observations and recommendations for  the judiciary following robust discussions on it's theme: 'Post Election Nigeria: The Judiciary in The Eye of The Storm'


In the Communique issued after the Conference, the NBA-SPIDEL lamented that corruption exists  within the administration of criminal justice, and bemoaned its negative effect on inmates and the perennial problem of congestion of custodial center.


The Conference nonetheless proffered a way forward by urging lawyers to act as ministers in the temple of justice by  lending their support to  ensure effective implementation of the innovative provisions of Nigerian criminal laws such as Section 12 (4-12) of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and Administration of Criminal Justice Laws applicable in many States 


The Conference, further submitting that the aftermath of the 2023 General Elections placed  a huge burden of sustaining the trust and confidence of the general public in the judiciary, averred  that the judiciary can only assert it's sanctity as a temple of justice by ensuring that justice is served in the process of resolving electoral grievances currently before various election tribunals.


The Conference, arguing that the integrity and character of practitioners are critical to the survival of the legal profession submitted that ethics and values should form part of the training of lawyers.


The full text of the Communique signed by Dr Monday Ubani, the outgoing NBA-SPIDEL Chairman and Mr Okey Leo Ohagba Chairman, Conference Planning Committee for NBA-SPIDEL 2023 Annual Conference reads:


"Communiqué Issued At the End of A Three-Day 2023 NBA-SPIDEL Annual Conference, with The Theme; Post Election Nigeria: The Judiciary in The Eye of The Storm


PREAMBLE:

The Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law (NBA SPIDEL) held its National Conference from 20-23 June 2023. The Three-Day Conference which took place at the Citadel Event Center Oregon-Ikeja, Lagos had in attendance private legal practitioners as well as participants from the civil society and the various arms of the government – the Executive, the Legislature and Judiciary. The conference was well attended. The content of the conference was very rich and it provided opportunity to explore critical issues relating to the theme of the conference. The Speakers at the conference and participants had robust discussions and made the following observations and recommendations on issues of elections and administration of justice in Nigeria.


OBSERVATIONS/ RECOMMENDATIONS

Participants at the conference:

1. Agreed that in the aftermath of the 2023 elections, there is a huge task of sustaining the trust and confidence of the general public in the judiciary and this can be achieved by ensuring that justice is served in the process of resolving electoral grievances currently before election tribunals.


2. Affirmed the huge grave responsibility bestowed upon the judiciary is to interpret the law and the expectations of the good people of Nigeria that the judiciary will deliver on this responsibility with diligence, maintaining the integrity of the judiciary whilst ensuring that the will of the majority is not substituted with the will of the minority.


19. Communicated that the National Assembly lacks the vires to fix the salary of members of the senate and house of Representatives. Only the fiscal revenue Allocation Mobilization Committee is empowered to carry out such duties.


20. Lamented the negative role poorly organized Political parties’ primaries play in igniting Nigerian electoral woes and recommended better managed and monitored Party Primaries.


21. Lamented the corruption that exists within the administration of criminal Justice, bemoaned the negative effect on inmates and the perennial problem of congestion of custodial centre and called on lawyers to act as ministers in the temple of Justice and support the effective implementation of the innovative provisions of Nigerian criminal laws such as Section 12 (4-12) of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 and Administration of Criminal Justice Laws applicable in many States are effectively implemented.


22. Made arguments for televising proceedings at the electoral tribunal in the interest of the public and as a human Rights Issues.


23. Integrity and Character of practitioners are critical to the survival of the legal profession as such ethics and values should for part of the training of lawyers.


24. It is important to address the issue of difficulty in enforcing Judgment against public institutions, especially for public interest litigation as this is contributing to public loss of interest in judicial processes.


25. Searchlight should be beamed on the activities of support staff of judicial officers as some of them paint the judiciary in very bad light.


26. Emphasized the role technology can play in giving Nigeria a better electoral process and get need for capacity of stakeholders to be built around this.


27. The need to review and improve the method of appointment and the remuneration of judges in Nigeria.


28. Called for proper funding of Justice institutions in Nigeria.


29. Called on all stakeholders to join hands with NBA-SPIDEL in its continued efforts on promotion of public interest and development law in Nigeria.


30. Encouraged all support the effective implementation of all the recommendations stated above.


Dr Monday Onyekachi Ubani

Chairman Chairman, Conference Planning Committee (CPC)

NBA-SPIDEL NBA-SPIDEL 2023 Annual Conference