CJN Gives Recipe For Better Justice System

The Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloma Mukhtar, last Thursday in Abuja said that access to justice was fundamental to the improvement of criminal justice system in the country.

Mukhtar made the observation at a one-day conference organised by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria.

The theme of the conference was “Access to Justice in a Democracy’’.

Mukhtar said access to justice was a factor that would enhance justice delivery and called on major stakeholders to assist the council in its effort to ensure that Nigerians, particularly the indigent, had access to justice.

“There is need to move the justice system forward. I implore all and sundry to come to the aid of the Legal Aid Council,” she said.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, said the Federal Ministry of Justice had given attention to the reformation of laws that were related to criminal and civil cases.

Adoke, who was represented by his Special Assistant, Mrs. Stella Aborime, said the role of the judiciary and prisons could not be over emphasised.

He said the ministry would continue to render assistance to the Legal Aid Council in its quest to ensure that all Nigerians had access to justice.

The Director-General, Legal Aid Council, Mrs. Joy Bob-Manuel, said providing free legal aid to the poor would enhance equality before the law.

Bob-Manuel said equality before the law was paramount because “it is the centre of the rule of law.”

She said the enhanced mandate of the council would afford it the opportunity to provide legal aid services for armed robbery suspects and the power to solicit funds.

“The council has a transformational Act that was assented to by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan.