New Legal Year: We will introduce fast-tracking mechanisms, Kogi CJ promises

The Acting Chief Judge of Kogi State, Hon. Justice Henry Adebola Olusiyi, has promised that the judiciary will introduce fast-tracking mechanisms to ensure that cases are not delayed in court, assuring that there would be decongestion of the state correctional centres and efforts will be geared towards the automation of court processes for quick, efficient as well as effective justice delivery.

Our Kogi State Correspondent reports that Justice Olusiyi, gave the assurance earlier today, Monday September 28, during a special court sitting to mark the commencement of the Kogi State Judiciary legal year.

Giving a panoramic review of the 2019/2020 legal year, Justice Olusiyi, noted that judicial activities were drastically slowed down, by the COVID-19 pandemic, hence the court had to dispose off a good number of the cases filed during the period of the lock-down.

He explained further that in the probate registry, 672 application for letters of administration were filed, out of which 523 have been granted.

"Justice delayed may sometimes, be justice denied, realizing also that justice rushed may also result in justice crushed. We will strife always to strike a balance between this two possibilities.

"Our courts will henceforth be cast in the mould of fast-track courts, focusing on dispensing quick justice, in all cases, especially in criminal cases. Not only should the beginning of a case be known, the end of it should also be known.

"The right to speedy trial is the essence of justice. In the new legal year, we shall, by the grace of God, make our courts to accelerate the delivery of justice and reduce pendency of cases in court.

"The idea of filing this cases in court without knowing when they will be concluded will soon be consigned to the dust bin history in the Kogi State Judiciary. 

"Realizing as we do, that not all the cases that come to court should have ended up in court in the first place, we shall set the necessary machines in motion to establish the multi-door court house to route incoming court cases to the most appropriate methods of dispute resolution, in order to save time and money for both the courts and the participants or litigant's", he added.

In his address, the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Edward David Onoja, described the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.

Bello said tyranny can only thrive in a society where lawyers and judges are intimidated.

He maintained that the year 2020 has been the most unusual year, which has pushed the state into one challenge or the other.

His words: "For Kogi State, we have to deal with one loses to another. The shocking demise of former Kogi State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Nasiru Ajanah, CON, and President of the Kogi State Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Tom Shaibu Yakubu, within one week, remains a great loss to their families and the people of Kogi State.

Meanwhile, the First Vice President of Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Debo Adeyemi, in his remarks, called on the government to respect the rule of law and enforce full autonomy for the State Judiciary.

He said the NBA President was committed to ensuring that the bar works effectively for its members, assuring that the interface of the President among aggrieved members would soon yield result.

Earlier, the Kogi State Attorney-General, Mohammed Ibrahim, SAN, called on judges to administer judgement in the fear of God.

The new legal year of Kogi State Judiciary, had in attendance Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Prince Mathew Kolawole, current Judges of the High Court of Justice, Hon. Kadis of the Sharia Course of Appeal and Hon. Judges of the Customary Court of Appeal.

×