The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Wednesday, decried what he described as the “terribly slow pace” of justice administration in the Nigerian courts.

Buhari, in his speech recalled how it took so long for the courts to decide and eventually dismiss the election petitions he filed to challenge his losses in the 2003, 2007, and 2011 presidential polls, declared that the Nigerian justice system needed an urgent reform.

He suggested that the judiciary should put a 12-month time limit on the hearing of criminal cases from the high court to the Supreme Court, while all civil cases should be concluded within 15 months.


Buhari spoke at the 60th Annual General Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association, with the theme, “Stepping Forward.”



His speech was read at the virtual conference by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN).

Speaking about his experience, Buhari said, “At the end, I lost all three cases. I wondered then, why it needed to take so long to arrive at a verdict and if I had won the case, someone who did not legitimately win the election would have been in office all that time.


“In 2019, I was no longer petitioner; I had now become a respondent in the case of Atiku and Buhari and the whole process took barely six months; just over six months. What was the difference? The law had changed since my own in 2003, 2007 and 2011. We had now introduced time limits for election petitions. Everything must be done within a six to eight-month period. My question then is why can’t we have a time limit for criminal cases? Why can’t we have a rule that will say a criminal trial all the way to the Supreme Court must not exceed 12 months? And why can’t we do the same for civil cases? Even if we say that civil cases must not go beyond between 12 and 15 months. I think that for me is stepping forward.”


The president equally lamented the churning out of multiple and conflicting court orders by judges, noting that in the recent leadership crisis that rocked the ruling All Progressives Congress, no fewer than eight conflicting court orders were made by different judges in a space of six weeks.

Buhari also proposed a reform of the process of judges’ appointment, recommending that aspiring judges should take tests.


https://punchng.com/buhari-proposes-12-month-time-limit-for-criminal-cases/

At last without El Rufai
Sharia NBA can go to Sambisa

Very well thought out...that's his professional body as well, so it's perfect that he attends. The NBA is a nobel body...I still wonder what they were thinking to have sent out invitations to politicians rather than technocrats.

This is a developmental move and it will effectuate the right of the accused to a speedy trial, further the interests of the public, including victims and witnesses, in the fair, accurate, and timely resolution of criminal cases, and also ensure the effective utilization of resources.

Buhari also proposed a reform of the process of judges’ appointment, recommending that aspiring judges should take tests.
Nice one at least most of them will be given opportunity to achieve their Dreams without necessarily owning it to any god father or the likes.

Mr.President seems to have forgotten that his govt of impunity & lawlessness both as military and civilian dictator has set the judiciary backward that judges mostly have to first look @ the powers that be before dispensing justice.

Can he recall the illegal invasion of revered supreme court judges houses in the night by the DSS in the name of fighting corruption? Many of them were acquitted.
What about the illegality involved in disposing the former CJN-Justice Onneghen & enthronement of Tanko?

What about the senseless "national security supersedes the rule of law" statement.What about coercion of the judiciary to manipulate & win elections as the courts now decide winners of elections in Nigeria all because of the bastardization of our electoral & democratic processes under his government? Abeg make we hear word.

A total reform is needed in the judicial sector. The judiciary is a very important arm of government and its a core part of the society.

Ok

Our Justice system really needs to be refused, it is the key to democracy and the government