Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has issued a stark warning regarding the country’s judiciary, citing the staggering number of unresolved cases and the lack of timely judgments from some judges as serious threats to judicial integrity.
Speaking at the third annual National Judicial Council (NJC) conference on judges’ performance evaluation in Abuja on Tuesday, Kekere-Ekun emphasized that public confidence in the judiciary is at risk if these alarming trends continue.
In her address, the CJN highlighted the concerning backlog, revealing that as of the first quarter of 2024, Nigeria’s superior courts of record—excluding the Supreme Court—had accumulated a total of 243,253 pending cases.
She said out of these, 199,747 were civil cases, while 43,506 were criminal cases.
Kekere-Ekun expressed particular dismay over the revelation that some judges had failed to deliver a single judgment over an entire quarter.
“This is simply unacceptable,” she declared, stressing that such delays not only impede justice but also jeopardize public faith in the judiciary.
“We must be deeply concerned by the increase in the number of pending cases and low disposition rates,” she added.
The NJC’s findings, which revealed thedecline in case disposals, prompted the CJN to urge immediate action.
According to Kekere-Ekun, the judicial system cannot afford complacency, especially when its reputation is on the line.
“It is imperative for all of us to take serious note of this alarming situation and refocus our attention on enhancing judicial performance,” she urged.
The CJN noted that the slow pace of legal proceedings in the country has long been a source of frustration for many Nigerians.
The widely-held belief that the judicial process is often “painstakingly slow and tedious” continues to fuel public discontent, with delayed judgments frequently viewed as a form of denied justice.
In a bid to address the burgeoning backlog, Kekere-Ekun advocated for significant reforms, starting with the adoption of digital tools to streamline case management and improve efficiency.
“The introduction of digital case management systems, judicial performance evaluation software (JPES), virtual courtrooms, e-filing systems, digital databases, webinars, online meetings, and advanced research engines provide a myriad of tools for efficiency in case disposition,” she noted.
She also pushed for a broader use of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms, such as mediation and arbitration, which she argued could expedite case resolution and reduce the burden on judges.
According to the CJN, embracing ADR could help ease the load while maintaining the integrity and speed of judicial decisions.
Kekere-Ekun’s warnings come at a critical time, with Nigeria’s legal system under increasing pressure to improve its delivery of justice.
“Unless we can justly, speedily, and effectively execute our roles as judicial officers, the populace will lose confidence in the judiciary,” she said, underscoring the high stakes involved.
“We cannot wish away the growing backlog of cases or expect a different result when we continue to do things the same way.”
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