Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned that public confidence in the judiciary is at risk if judges continue to delay the execution of cases. She made this statement at the third annual National Judicial Council (NJC) conference on judges’ performance evaluation held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Expressing her concerns about the increasing backlog of cases and the slow pace at which judges are resolving them, Kekere-Ekun shared some alarming statistics. As of the first quarter of 2024, there were 243,253 cases pending in Nigeria’s superior courts, excluding the Supreme Court. This figure includes 199,747 civil suits and 43,506 criminal cases.
The CJN expressed her dissatisfaction with the low rates of case disposal, highlighting that some judges had not delivered a single judgment over an entire quarter. “This is simply unacceptable,” she stated, emphasizing the need for immediate action to rectify the situation.
To enhance judicial efficiency, Kekere-Ekun called for the adoption of technology and innovative case management solutions, such as digital case management systems, virtual courtrooms, and e-filing. She also advocated for alternative dispute resolution mechanisms like mediation and arbitration to alleviate the workload on the courts.
“My Lords, ladies and gentlemen, we cannot wish away the growing backlog of cases or expect a different result when we continue to do things the same way,” she remarked. The CJN underscored that delayed justice is tantamount to denied justice, and timely resolutions are essential for maintaining public trust in the judiciary. She urged judicial officers to fully leverage digital tools to improve their performance and reduce the backlog of cases.