Akpabio Sends Serious Warning To Judges Over Court Order

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has sent a stern warning to Judges over the kind of orders they issue.

He emphasized the need for judges to cease the misuse of ex parte orders, particularly in political cases, during his address titled “Repositioning the Justice System, Constitutional, Statutory and Operational Reforms for Access and Efficiency” at the National Summit on Justice in Abuja.

He urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to exercise strict oversight to prevent the abuse of ex parte orders, recommending severe sanctions for violators to deter future abuses. Akpabio proposed clear standards for issuing ex parte orders and regular audits by the NJC to ensure compliance.

Akpabio also called for reforms in the approach to interlocutory appeals in civil cases, suggesting that appeals should only be permitted after the conclusion of the substantive case to expedite judicial processes and reduce backlog.

Regarding obtaining the Attorney General’s consent before executing judgments, Akpabio advocated for modifying this requirement to facilitate swifter execution of judgments, enhancing the efficiency of the justice system.

He highlighted ongoing efforts by the National Assembly Committees on Constitutional Amendment and Amendment of the Electoral Act to integrate transformative justice reforms into ongoing amendments.

Akpabio expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for appointing Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) as Minister of Justice and commended the Nigerian Bar Association and the National Judicial Council for their dedication and collaboration in justice reform efforts.

He underscored the importance of unwavering commitment and concerted efforts from all stakeholders to enhance justice delivery and uphold the rule of law in Nigeria.