As A Lawyer, The Last Place I Would Want My Dispute Settled Is The Court — J.S. Okutepa SAN

*Over Blotted Cause Lists, Judicial Officers Writing In Long
Hands Cause Of Delay of Justice
*Says Our Court Moves At Snail Pace
*The Executive Must See That Our Courts Are Enabled To Deliver
Justice Without Injustice

Senior Advocate of Nigeria, J.S.Okutepa, has said that even as a
lawyer, the last place he would want his dispute settled is the
court.

The learned silk made this statement whilst commenting on the
delay in justice delivery in Nigeria.

According to him, there are some principal factors that
contribute to the reason why litigants do not get immediate justice
and judgments in our courts. Among the factors mentioned are the
over blotted cause lists, lack of basic amenities in courts and the
fact that our judges and judicial officers still write in long
hands.

”As legal Practitioner, I have come to realise that many
litigants do not get immediate justice and judgments in our courts.
When I say courts, I mean both the trial and appellate courts
including the apex court of the land. The reasons for these are
many. Principal amongst them are the over blotted cause lists, lack
of basic amenities in courts and the fact that our judges and
judicial officers still write in long hands. As a lawyer, the last
place I would want my dispute settled is court.

”Apart from political and election-related cases, cases in our
courts move at snail pace. There are many factors responsible for
this. Principal amongst them is the lack of cooperation and synergy
between the bar and bench and what appears to be rivalry between
the bar and the bench. The bar and bench ought to be like siemen
twins. The political class seem also to have perfected strategies
to kill speedy hearing of causes and matters. Take a trip to any of
our courts, you will feel sorry for judicial officers who sit
there,” he said.

The Learned Silk also narrated his experience in a court
premises, which he describes as the gate of hell. He further said
that
we as members of the legal profession have also been unable to give
immediate justice to ourselves, adding that, we deliberately injure
ourselves and our professional pride and taunt ourselves “you can
go to court”.

”Just last week I was in one of the high courts in one of
Nigerian states in the North. From 9am the court was like the gate
of hell. There court hall was so hot that no meaningful legal
productivity can come out there. We all struggled till 2pm when the
case was adjourned. The government seems to have decided to
emasculate the judicial arm with active connivance and
collaboration of members of the legal profession.

”We as members of the legal profession have also been unable to
give immediate justice to ourselves. We deliberately injure
ourselves and our professional pride and taunt ourselves “you can
go to court”. Why do we do so? We all know that our courts do not
give immediate justice and even when courts deliver judgements in
some causes and matters, the judgments are mostly devoid of
justice.

”There is an urgent need to address the injustice in our justice
sector. The incoming 9th National Assembly must address the
injustice in our justice system. The Executive must see that our
courts are enabled to deliver justice without injustice. The
judicial arm itself must wake up to its responsibility. A situation
where it seems not to be bothered about delayed justice must stop.
Why should causes and matters suffer adjournment on account of
private businesses of judex? The courts below the Supreme court
need to learn from our Supreme court. Supreme court of Nigeria
never adjourn appeals unless in deserving cases. Judgments are
delivered on dates fixed for them. We as members of the legal
profession must ensure that Nigerians are not afraid of going to
courts to seek justice,” he added.