Amended Constitution To Hasten Dispensation Of Justice - CJN

ABUJA, June 19, (THEWILL) – In consonance with the judicial reform being championed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher, the proposed amendment of the 1999 Constitution would address all gray areas and promote quick dispensation of justice, president of the Senate, David Mark has assured.

“Anything we can do to deliver justice swiftly without delay is welcome. Justice delayed is justice denied,” Mark said while receiving the proposed judicial amendment to the Constitution from Justice Musdapher in his office on Tuesday. “The three arms of government are important; we must work together to promote democracy and deliver its dividends to our people.”

He assured that the constitutional amendment would be expedited to correct all the contentions in the 1999 Constitution, in an open, honest and transparent manner.

Deputy President of the Senate and chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee, Ike Ekweremadu assured that the Senate would do its best not to disappoint Nigerians. “We will bring about changes that would reflect on the dynamics of the society,” he said.

Presenting the 47 amendments on judicial reforms, Justice Musdapher said the proposed amendments were borne out of a reform process expected to address contemporary issues seriously affecting the Judiciary.

The proposed amendment includes an alteration to the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court such that appeals from the Court of Appeal on interlocutory decisions and other matters shall only be by leave of the Supreme Court.

Other proposals are alterations to the composition of the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judicial Commission, to ensure greater balance.

The process of removal of judicial officers has been streamlined to ensure a greater degree of fairness, while the old section 295 regarding reference on questions of law has been deleted, having been exploited as a means of stalling the swiftness of the trial process.

The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court was also expanded to include an advisory jurisdiction on application by the president or a governor on questions of law or fact that are of such importance that it is expedient to obtain an opinion of the Supreme Court on it, among others.

“Despite the separation of powers, it is imperative that the National Assembly and the Judiciary work in harmony for the common good of this nation,” Musdapher said.