An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Uchenna Ojembe, has called on the Federal Government to strengthen accountability mechanisms within Nigeria’s judiciary to improve the speed and efficiency of justice delivery.
Ojembe made the recommendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, stressing the need for judicial officers to be accountable when court proceedings are repeatedly stalled without sufficient explanation.
The lawyer said an efficient judicial system must be built around both accountability and adherence to the rule of law. He noted that delays can be particularly challenging for litigants who sometimes travel considerable distances to attend court proceedings.
However, Ojembe cautioned against viewing every delay as a failure by judges, explaining that judicial officers manage heavy caseloads and are required to follow due legal procedures before reaching decisions.
To ease the workload confronting judges, he advocated the appointment of additional judicial officers. According to him, increasing the number of judges would allow cases to be distributed more effectively and help reduce pressure on individual courts.
Ojembe also welcomed government efforts to renovate courtrooms and improve court facilities in Abuja, describing such investments as important to creating a more effective judicial environment.
He further highlighted the importance of educating members of the public about the law. He said his law firm, Uche Ojembe & Associates, had been using social media and written materials to explain legal issues in simpler terms.
According to him, making legal information easier to understand can help Nigerians avoid misconceptions about the law, particularly when they receive court judgments that do not favour them.
Ojembe disclosed that the firm’s new headquarters in Games Village, Abuja, would broaden its legal services. These include litigation, dispute resolution, alternative dispute resolution, property transactions, corporate and commercial matters, debt recovery and probate services.
He reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining diligence, integrity and professionalism in legal practice, while encouraging fellow lawyers to broaden their areas of expertise and help Nigerians access justice more effectively.
The lawyer maintained that a stronger combination of judicial accountability, adequate staffing, improved infrastructure and public legal education would contribute significantly to faster and more effective justice delivery in Nigeria.
