An Ibadan-based legal practitioner, Olakunle Akintola, has proposed that the Supreme Court’s appellate jurisdiction be narrowed to focus on constitutional matters and criminal cases.

While speaking on ways to improve the judiciary in Ibadan on Thursday, he proposed that the constitution be amended to accommodate judicial reforms, such as narrowing the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.

Mr Akintola, the former secretary of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Oyo chapter, contended that not all appeals from the Court of Appeal should proceed to the Supreme Court.

According to him, this would significantly reduce the apex court’s caseload, as only constitutional and criminal matters should be entertained at that level.

On constitutional amendments, he supported state policing and local government autonomy to ensure even development.

“It will be good if the constitution can be amended to accommodate state policing.

“Also good, if the amendment can ensure the implementation of the grant for full administrative and financial autonomy to the 774 local governments to ensure even development,” he said.

The lawyer also called for financial autonomy for state judiciaries, merit-based appointments, and the digitalisation of courts to address challenges such as corruption, infrastructure deficits, and a lack of public confidence.

“The judiciary can be improved by ensuring that the judiciary is given full financial autonomy. State judiciaries should be financially independent and not rely on any state governor for their survival.

“Also, appointment of judicial officers should be based on merit. Political influence and nepotism should not be the basis for the appointment of judicial officers; competence should be the key prerequisite,” he said.

Mr Akintola also emphasised that the courts need to be fully digitalised, and facilities that aid quick, stress-free recording should be put in place to eliminate the judge’s longhand recording of proceedings.

The legal practitioner stressed that the judiciary must strive to restore the lost public confidence.

He, however, noted that the judiciary was undergoing reforms under the new leadership of the current chief justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

“The judiciary is improving compared to the last five years. Although there are some notable challenges, such as a lack of confidence in the judicial system by the citizenry, judicial corruption, and misconduct among the judicial officers.

“There is also unnecessary delay in adjudication processes, congestion of cases in courts and infrastructural deficit. All these should be tackled to improve the judiciary sector and restore the lost public confidence,” Mr Akintola said.

(NAN)