Nigerian judges burdened with too many cases –- Ajimobi

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has attributed the
slow dispensation of justice to the high number of cases that
judges across the country are being burdened with.

The governor, stated this while inaugurating the Oyo State
Multi-door Court House located within the premises of the State
High Court, Ibadan, on Tuesday.

He therefore appealed to litigants to embrace the
newly-introduced multi-court door initiative as an alternative
route to seeking redress and liberalizing access to justice.

Ajimobi explained that the multi-court door system was in the
furtherance of alternative dispute resolution system which he
described as the country’s native jurisprudence before the
contemporary court system came into being.

He said: “The official commissioning of the multi-door court
house today is a clear signal that we are returning to our root
where issues are resolved amicably without the much experienced
delays, complex legalese and drain on the resources of the state
and disputants.

Read Also: Why we are reforming education sector, by Ajimobi
“This is not meant to minimize the role of our courts, especially
the courts of records which play a pivotal role in the maintenance
of civil and social order in our society.

“But our vision is to ensure that we provide a credible
alternative, yet constitutional route, towards dispute resolution
and attainment of justice.’’

In further justifying the introduction of the multi-door court
system in the state, the governor frowned on what he called the
astronomical addition to the court docket quarterly, saying the
development might hamper speedy dispensation of justice.

Ajimobi said that the multi-door court process would enable
disputants to access the various other dispute resolution options
such as mediation, arbitration, conciliation, early neutral
evaluation and hybrid processes.

He said: “I understand from the information available to me that
each one of our judges in the High Court currently carry a case
load of between 300 and 400 cases per court, which number increases
monthly.

“So far, within this first quarter of 2018 only, I am informed
that 306 new civil cases have been filed by disputants before the
Oyo State High Court and 173 criminal cases filed by the Ministry
of Justice and the police.

“With such astronomical addition to the court docket quarterly,
our administration of justice system may never be able to achieve
speedy dispensation of justice, without an initiative like the
multi-door court.

“It is clear that without this alternative route and a
liberalization of our access to justice structures, speedy
dispensation of justice will continue to elude our people.’’

Also speaking at the occasion, the State Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluseun Abimbola, said the landmark
performances of the present administration, which culminated in the
transformation of the State into the 4th Most Desirable Destination
of Choice for Foreign Investment had been replicated in the legal
system

He described the multi-door court process as part of the
Ajimobi-led administration’s legacy of restoration, transformation,
and repositioning the state, for which the legal profession in the
state would remain grateful.

Abimbola urged all stakeholders and the organized private sector
to embrace and harness the benefits of the new initiative in the
state’s justice system for their own benefit.

The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola expressed
appreciation to the governor for the initiative and promised that
the state’s legal administration would do all within its power to
enhance justice delivery in the State.

Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has attributed the
slow dispensation of justice to the high number of cases that
judges across the country are being burdened with.

The governor, stated this while inaugurating the Oyo State
Multi-door Court House located within the premises of the State
High Court, Ibadan, on Tuesday.

He therefore appealed to litigants to embrace the
newly-introduced multi-court door initiative as an alternative
route to seeking redress and liberalizing access to justice.

Ajimobi explained that the multi-court door system was in the
furtherance of alternative dispute resolution system which he
described as the country’s native jurisprudence before the
contemporary court system came into being.

He said: “The official commissioning of the multi-door court
house today is a clear signal that we are returning to our root
where issues are resolved amicably without the much experienced
delays, complex legalese and drain on the resources of the state
and disputants.

Read Also: Why we are reforming education sector, by Ajimobi
“This is not meant to minimize the role of our courts, especially
the courts of records which play a pivotal role in the maintenance
of civil and social order in our society.

“But our vision is to ensure that we provide a credible
alternative, yet constitutional route, towards dispute resolution
and attainment of justice.’’

In further justifying the introduction of the multi-door court
system in the state, the governor frowned on what he called the
astronomical addition to the court docket quarterly, saying the
development might hamper speedy dispensation of justice.

Ajimobi said that the multi-door court process would enable
disputants to access the various other dispute resolution options
such as mediation, arbitration, conciliation, early neutral
evaluation and hybrid processes.

He said: “I understand from the information available to me that
each one of our judges in the High Court currently carry a case
load of between 300 and 400 cases per court, which number increases
monthly.

“So far, within this first quarter of 2018 only, I am informed
that 306 new civil cases have been filed by disputants before the
Oyo State High Court and 173 criminal cases filed by the Ministry
of Justice and the police.

“With such astronomical addition to the court docket quarterly,
our administration of justice system may never be able to achieve
speedy dispensation of justice, without an initiative like the
multi-door court.

“It is clear that without this alternative route and a
liberalization of our access to justice structures, speedy
dispensation of justice will continue to elude our people.’’

Also speaking at the occasion, the State Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluseun Abimbola, said the landmark
performances of the present administration, which culminated in the
transformation of the State into the 4th Most Desirable Destination
of Choice for Foreign Investment had been replicated in the legal
system

He described the multi-door court process as part of the
Ajimobi-led administration’s legacy of restoration, transformation,
and repositioning the state, for which the legal profession in the
state would remain grateful.

Abimbola urged all stakeholders and the organized private sector
to embrace and harness the benefits of the new initiative in the
state’s justice system for their own benefit.

The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Munta Abimbola expressed
appreciation to the governor for the initiative and promised that
the state’s legal administration would do all within its power to
enhance justice delivery in the State.