SUPPORT FULL FINANCIAL AUTONOMY OF JUDICIARY—AGF TELLS OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL

REPPRTER: AMECHI ODO

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi has called on Attorneys General of states to support full implementation of the Independence and financial autonomy for the judiciary as provided for in the constitution.

He made the call at the opening of South East Special Policy Summit on Criminal Justice Reform going on in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.

Mr. Fagbemi, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), observed that Judiciary Independence when implemented across the states would serve as a mark of the nation’s true and holistic commitment to the ideals of democracy, good governance and rule of law.

He described the summit as apt, noting that the present administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda was committed to transcending the status quo by crafting a Criminal Justice System that would set a foundation for the future of the country.

Governor Francis Nwifuru noted that a smooth and effective system of criminal justice administration was fundamental to the maintenance of law and order in any given society but observed that speedy resolution of disputes in Nigerian courts had become elusive due to backlogs, delays and corruption.

The Attorney General of Ebonyi State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ben Uruchiodo, said the summit was informed by the deteriorating state of Criminal Justice System in the South East zone, noting that it had affected investors’ confidence in the area.

More than Nine Attorneys General from within and outside the South East zone were attending the event.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU