Senate President Godswill Akpiabio on Wednesday called on the authorities of the nation’s judiciary to stop the misuse of ex parte orders, especially in political cases by judges.

Mr Akpiabio said this at the National Summit on Justice in Abuja.

He said the National Judicial Council (NJC) needed to exercise stringent oversight to curb the misuse of ex parte orders.

Mr Akpabio said, “We recommend prompt and decisive punishment for erring judges who are found to be involved in this abuse. We further propose that the NJC establish clear and detailed standards governing the issuance of ex parte orders, accompanied by a defined set of sanctions for violations.

“These sanctions should be severe enough to deter people from future abuses. We recommend that the NJC should conduct regular audits and reviews of ex parte orders issued by judges to ensure compliance with established standards.”

Mr Akpabio said the proactive approach would help identify patterns of abuse early and administer corrective measures promptly. He also emphasised the importance of ongoing training and education for Judges on the ethical and responsible use of judicial discretion in issuing ex parte orders.

Mr Akpabio also called for a reform in the approach to interlocutory appeals in civil cases, saying that current appeals often cause unnecessary delays, prolong litigation and burden to the courts.

“As was done in the criminal jurisprudence during the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, we propose that all appeals in civil cases should be taken only after the conclusion of the substantive case. This change will accelerate judicial processes, reduce backlog, and ensure that litigation is not unduly prolonged by intermediate appeals.

“Another area requiring urgent reform is the process of obtaining the attorney general’s consent before executing judgments. This requirement often acts as a bottleneck, delaying justice and undermining the autonomy of our judicial system,” the Senate president explained.

He added, “We propose modifying this requirement to facilitate a swifter execution of judgments, thereby enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of our justice system.”

Mr Akpabio said these reforms foster trust in the justice system and improve the overall efficiency of legal proceedings involving the government.

He said the National Assembly Committee on Constitutional Amendment and the Committee on Amendment of the Electoral Act were working to ensure that the transformative justice reforms were seamlessly integrated into the ongoing amendments.

Mr Akpabio added, “This integration will not only fortify our constitution and electoral framework but will also ensure that justice both in letter and in spirit becomes more attainable for every Nigerian. The National Assembly is not unaware of the delays and backlogs plaguing the courts.”

He said the National Assembly was committed to budgeting for implementing judicial reforms, which would include adopting digital tools to manage cases more effectively and ensure that justice was neither delayed nor denied.

The Senate president called on all stakeholders, including the legislative, executive and judiciary, to support the vital reforms.

“Together, we can build a justice system that is fit for the 21st century,” Mr Akpabio said.

(NAN)