National Telescope national telescope newspaper
By Olatunde Oluwasola
Immediate past Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Judiciary, Hon Onofiok Luke, has called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint more judges to reduce the workload of the Supreme Court.
He said this in a statement on Wednesday while also mourning Justice Chima Nweze of the apex court who died recently.
He emphasized that the Supreme court handles cases from various regions of the country, leading to some matters languishing for over two decades. Despite this excessive caseload,the court is yet to reach its full complement of justices.
Highlighting the impending retirement of two justices in the coming months, Luke pointed out that the court is now short-handed and struggling to efficiently execute its adjudicatory functions and policy-setting responsibilities.
Moreover, as the post-election season commences, the services of the court are expected to be in high demand, exacerbating the strain on the justices.
Luke underscored that the consequences of this situation are difficult to quantify.
The former lawmaker expressed his worries that the protracted administration of justice could potentially diminish the quality of justice delivery to the people.
The court lacks sufficient manpower to thoroughly consider cases, leading to delays and potential setbacks in justice.
Luke stressed that it is imperative for all stakeholders in the Nigerian project to step in and safeguard the judiciary and the nation.
He emphasized the pivotal role of the judiciary in democracy, stating that any disruption to its smooth functioning directly affects Nigeria as a whole.
In a direct plea to President Asiwaju Tinubu, renowned for his democratic record, Luke urged him to intervene promptly and approve the appointment of new justices to complete the court’s full complement of 21.
He said doing so would alleviate the burden on the current justices and streamline the court’s core functions, ultimately ensuring efficient justice delivery.
This vital action, as Luke emphasized, would safeguard the judiciary’s integrity, uphold democracy, and ease the strain on the current justices, allowing them to fulfill their duties without unnecessary stress.
