The Chief Justices of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, expressed concerns on Wednesday about the state of the country’s judiciary. He mentioned that there has been a rise in the number of pending court cases, which is causing difficulties for the judiciary. Nigeria is known to be one of the most litigious countries in the world.
Justice Ariwoola emphasized the need for Nigerians to adopt alternative dispute resolution methods instead of resorting to litigation. This would help alleviate the burden on the courts and prevent the depletion of resources. He made these remarks while inaugurating nine newly appointed Justices of the Court of Appeal at the Supreme Court.
The CJN explained that the rise in court cases can be attributed to the increasing number of novel crimes being committed in the country. Political cases, in particular, have been a significant contributor to the growing caseload. This situation is putting a strain on the courts and creating challenging times for the judiciary.
Justice Ariwoola stressed the importance of reducing litigation and promoting alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. He urged the newly appointed Justices of the Court of Appeal to rise to the challenges they will face. They have a responsibility to work diligently and efficiently to meet the expectations of litigants. By doing so, they can justify their elevation to the Court of Appeal and potentially even aspire to be appointed to the Supreme Court in the future.