Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), revealed on Wednesday that the slow pace of hearing cases in Nigeria is affecting the judiciary’s integrity.
Agbakoba, who believes the judiciary can do better, believes that accelerated petition hearings are required before president-elect, Bola Tinubu’s inauguration on May 29, noting that Kenya can complete theirs in 14 days. He wondered why it took Nigeria 360 days to resolve election-related cases.
The Senior Advocate stated this during an interview on Wednesday’s Arise Television Program, adding that Courts should hear and rule on cases quickly before Tinubu is sworn in.
He explained that the polity is becoming agitated because the opposition is aware Tinubu can be sworn in while the petition is in the Court of Appeal.
He said; “Snail speed of hearing cases affecting integrity of the judiciary, Judiciary can do better
“Accelerated hearing of petitions is necessary before Tinubu is sworn-in on May 29. Let the petitions be heard quickly, it can be done. If Kenya can do theirs in 14 days, why do we need 360 days to do ours?
“I don’t think Peter Obi is committing treason with his utterances. The polity is being over-heated because opposition is aware Tinubu can be sworn-in while petition is in court of appeal,” he added.
Agbakoba earlier said that speedy dispensation of presidential election petitions is a strategy against having an interim government.
He said the “secret plans” must be rejected by all Nigerians.
Proffering a solution in a fresh statement on Monday, the senior advocate said there will be no need for an interim government if the petitions are heard and disposed of before May 29.
He said; “The tension around the call for an interim government is that the presidential election petition may not conclude before the inauguration of a new president on May 29, 2023,” he said.
“But it’s very possible to conclude these petitions, provided that the court systems are very proactive.
“Under arbitration matters, procedural orders and or directions issue peremptorily to resolve sometimes very complex jurisdictional and procedural issues.
“The presidential election tribunals are urged to adapt the procedures very familiar with speedy conclusion of arbitration matters.”