Judicial independence, guarantee for rule of law — Okowa

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said that only an independent judiciary would guarantee effective rule of law in Nigeria.

Okowa stated this on Monday in his keynote address at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) – Section on Legal Practice (SLP) 2022 Annual Conference in Asaba.

The conference has as its theme, “Legal Practice in Nigeria: Our Reality, Our Future.”

The Governor said that the NBA leadership deserved commendations for its continued fight for the rule of law and for holding the executive arm of government accountable to the principles of fairness, equity and justice.

He lauded the NBA for holding the conference in Asaba, being one of Nigeria’s fastest growing cities while  assuring that his administration would continue to support financial autonomy for the judiciary and the legislative arm in the state.

“The courts and the legal profession must continue to adapt to cope with rapid changes like cross-jurisdictional legal issues and resolve disputes over business activities in the virtual world.

“Of equal importance is the need for the Nigerian Bar Association to continue championing the welfare and well-being of legal practitioners and members of the Judiciary.

“The Delta State Government is working to provide a framework under which the Judiciary and the legal profession can respond positively to these challenges, hence in 2021, I signed into law the Delta State Judiciary Fund Management (Financial Autonomy),” he said.

While he agreed that much work remained to attain genuine financial autonomy, he said that the law marked a critical first step for the independent control of the Judiciary’s internal fiscal management and appropriations.

“My administration has and will continue to support the notion that judicial finance should be exercised free of interference by the executive branch of government in the same manner that the executive and legislative branches administer the funds appropriated for their internal operations.

“This is because there can be no rule of law without a guarantee of independence for the judiciary.

“Protecting the independence of judges and courts in the interest of the administration of justice includes giving them the substantial resources they need to fully perform their judicial duties properly and efficiently,” he said.

Okowa said that guaranteeing them financial autonomy would enable them  consider cases fairly and within a reasonable time as required by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“In addition, the courts must have the assurance from the other two state powers that they will have sufficient operating resources and financial autonomy in managing these resources.

“We will continue to work to achieve this end ultimately,” he said.

The Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, represented by Justice Abdul Aboki, in his remarks, said that the NBA had a burden to ensure that legal practitioners kept to the ethics of the profession.

He said that the challenges of the legal profession were self-inflicted and lauded the choice of the conference theme which according to him was meant to address the challenges facing the profession.

Ariwoola urged legal practitioners to brace up to improve the administration of justice in the country.

On her part, Chief Judge of Delta, Justice Theresa Diai, expressed delight with the partnership between the state government, the state judiciary and the NBA, saying that it was necessary for the development of the justice sector in the country.

She commended the Section on Legal Practice for championing the course of improving knowledge of legal practice in the country.

Earlier, President of NBA, Mr Olumide Akpata, thanked the government and people of Delta for hosting and sponsoring the conference.

He also congratulated Okowa for clinching the Vice-Presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and wished him great success.

He said that the three sections of the NBA – Section on Business Law, Section on Legal Practice and the Section on Public Interest and Development Law had continued to grow in leaps and bounds.

“The NBA-SLP occupies a very credible place in the Association as members are engaged in dispute resolution practice as litigation practitioners and alternative dispute resolution practitioners.

In his address of welcome, Chairman, NBA-SLP, Chief Ferdinand Orbih (SAN), said the objective of the conference was to valiantly confront the contemporary challenges facing the legal profession and design a road map for the future.

He said that lack of consistency in judicial pronouncement was becoming an albatross for the legal profession especially as regards electoral jurisprudence and called on members to find lasting solution to the challenge.