• About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
No Result
View All Result
NewsNet Nigeria
  • Home
  • News
    • Local News
    • National
  • Politics
  • Economy
    • Oil and Gas
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • MORE
    • Interview
    • Editorial
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Science & Tech
    • Videos
NewsNet Nigeria
No Result
View All Result
Home Judiciary

Judicial independence, guarantee for rule of law – Okowa

by NewsNet Nigeria
3 years ago
in Judiciary, News
Judicial independence, guarantee for rule of law – Okowa
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on Whatsapp

Delta Governor and Vice-Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has said that there cannot be effective rule of law in Nigeria without financial autonomy and independence of the judiciary.

Okowa stated this on Monday in his keynote address at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) – Section on Legal Practice (SLP) 2022 Annual Conference in Asaba.

He said at the conference with the theme “Legal Practice in Nigeria: Our Reality, Our Future” that the NBA leadership deserved commendations for its continued fight for the rule of law and holding the executive arm of government accountable to the principles of fairness, equity and justice.

The Governor commended the NBA for holding the conference in Asaba, one of Nigeria’s fastest-growing cities, and assured that his administration would continue to support financial autonomy for the judiciary in the state just as the legislative arm.

“The courts and the legal profession must continue to adapt to cope with rapid changes like cross-jurisdictional legal issues and resolve disputes over business activities in the virtual world. They will have to address the impact of information technology on their work.

“Of equal importance is the need for the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to continue championing the welfare and well-being of legal practitioners and members of the Judiciary.

“The Delta State Government is working to provide a framework under which the Judiciary and the legal profession can respond positively to these challenges, hence in 2021, I signed into law the Delta State Judiciary Fund Management (Financial Autonomy).

“While I agree that much work remains to attain genuine financial autonomy, the law marks a critical first step for the independent control of the Judiciary’s internal fiscal management and appropriations.

ALSO READ  Delta Speaker Guwor Felicitates Ex-Governor Okowa at 66

“My administration has and will continue to support the notion that judicial finance should be exercised free of interference by the executive branch of government in the same manner that the executive and legislative branches administer the funds appropriated for their internal operations.

“This is because there can be no rule of law without a guarantee of independence for the judiciary.

“Protecting the independence of judges and courts in the interest of the administration of justice includes giving them the substantial resources they need to fully perform their judicial duties properly and efficiently and to consider cases fairly and within a reasonable time as required by Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).

“In addition, the courts must have the assurance from the other two state powers that they will have sufficient operating resources and financial autonomy in managing these resources.  We will continue to work to achieve this end ultimately.

“The legal community must put itself in a position to leverage the continental trade liberalisation under the AfCFTA because the expected growth in business and investments presents significant prospects,” the governor said.

He added that businesses would need competent lawyers to advise on domestic and international transactions, conflicts of laws and commercial dispute resolution and urged Nigerian lawyers to specialise in established and emerging practice areas.

“I subscribe to the view that Nigeria does not have too many lawyers but too many lawyers doing the same thing.  Many lawyers tend to focus on the obvious practice areas like criminal, family, or land law.

ALSO READ  Senator Nwoko Moves to Foster Unity in Delta North APC, Seeks Engagement with Okowa, Nwaoboshi

“But there is an increasing need for legal advice in niche areas. These include international trade law, with the advent of the AfCFTA and the exponential increase in cross-border trade,’’ he said, adding that a society governed by the rule of law, must ensure that citizens had access to justice at reasonable cost and speed.

Okowa stressed that “to meet community expectations, the court system must be able to resolve disputes between citizen and citizen and between citizen and State, not only fairly but also economically and expeditiously.

“Justice that is not affordable or delayed will amount to a denial of justice.”

He noted that the State shared NBA’s ideals of upholding the rule of law, and disclosed that his administration recently submitted the Delta State Administrative Procedure Bill to the House of Assembly for legislative action.

“The Bill strengthens the rule of law and improves the administration of justice by prescribing a fair and transparent procedure for Delta State administrative agencies to propose and issue their regulations.”

Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, represented by Justice Abdul Aboki, in his remarks, said that the NBA had a burden to ensure that legal practitioners kept to the ethics of the profession.

He said that the challenges of the legal profession were self-inflicted and lauded the choice of the conference theme which according to him was meant to address the challenges facing the profession.

Ariwola urged legal practitioners to brace up to improve the administration of justice in the country.

On her part, Chief Judge of Delta, Justice Theresa Diai, expressed delight with the partnership between the state government, the state judiciary and the NBA, saying that it was necessary for the development of the justice sector in the country.

ALSO READ  Ned Nwoko: The Senator Representing Delta?

She commended the Section on Legal Practice for championing the course of improving knowledge of legal practice in the country.

Earlier, the President of NBA, Mr Olumide Akpata, had thanked the government and people of Delta for hosting and sponsoring the conference.

He also congratulated Governor Okowa for clinching the Vice-Presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP and wished him great success.

He said that the three sections of the NBA – Section on Business Law, Section on Legal Practice and the Section on Public Interest and Development Law had continued to grow in leaps and bounds.

“The NBA-SLP occupies a very credible place in the Association as members are engaged in dispute resolution practice as litigation practitioners and alternative dispute resolution practitioners.

“I commend the organisers for the choice of the conference theme and timing because of the critical role it will play in the administration of criminal justice in Nigeria,” Akpata stated.

He charged the judiciary to entrench the principles of accountability, probity and transparency in the management and allocation of the resources allocated to it.

Welcoming guests earlier, Chairman of the NBA-SLP, Chief Ferdinard Orbih SAN, said the objective of the conference was to valiantly confront the contemporary challenges facing the legal profession and design a road map for the future.

He said lack of consistency in judicial pronouncements was becoming an albatross for the legal profession, especially as regards electoral jurisprudence and called on members to find lasting solutions to the challenge.

Previous Post

Police release 77 people rescued from church in Ondo

Next Post

2023: South-South youths drum support for Tinubu

MORE NEWS

Fred Majemite Felicitates Nigerians at 65, Calls for Renewed Patriotism, Urges Leaders to Prioritise Good Governance
Celebration

Fred Majemite Felicitates Nigerians at 65, Calls for Renewed Patriotism, Urges Leaders to Prioritise Good Governance

October 1, 2025
FG Declares Friday, September 5, Public Holiday for Eid-ul-Mawlid
Celebration

The Worst Is Over, Nigeria on Path to Recovery, Says Tinubu at 65th Independence Anniversary

October 1, 2025
Nigeria at 65: Senator Dafinone Urges Renewed Hope, Commitment to National Unity
Celebration

Nigeria at 65: Senator Dafinone Urges Renewed Hope, Commitment to National Unity

October 1, 2025
Senator Dafinone Congratulates Sir Victor Akpoguma on Elevation as SAN
Celebration

Senator Dafinone Congratulates Sir Victor Akpoguma on Elevation as SAN

September 30, 2025
Next Post
2023: South-South youths drum support for Tinubu

2023: South-South youths drum support for Tinubu

Leave Comment

RECENT STORIES

Delta Police Command Sensitises Corps Members on Cybercrime, Rights, Responsibilities

Delta Police Command Sensitises Corps Members on Cybercrime, Rights, Responsibilities

October 1, 2025
Fred Majemite Felicitates Nigerians at 65, Calls for Renewed Patriotism, Urges Leaders to Prioritise Good Governance

Fred Majemite Felicitates Nigerians at 65, Calls for Renewed Patriotism, Urges Leaders to Prioritise Good Governance

October 1, 2025
FG Declares Friday, September 5, Public Holiday for Eid-ul-Mawlid

The Worst Is Over, Nigeria on Path to Recovery, Says Tinubu at 65th Independence Anniversary

October 1, 2025
Nigeria at 65: Senator Dafinone Urges Renewed Hope, Commitment to National Unity

Nigeria at 65: Senator Dafinone Urges Renewed Hope, Commitment to National Unity

October 1, 2025
Delta Speaker Guwor Urges Collective Action for a Greater Nigeria at 65th Independence Anniversary

Delta Speaker Guwor Urges Collective Action for a Greater Nigeria at 65th Independence Anniversary

October 1, 2025

TRENDING STORIES

  • Ibru Organisation Chairman, Olorogun Oscar Ibru, Dies at 67

    Ibru Organisation Chairman, Olorogun Oscar Ibru, Dies at 67

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • FIFA Strips South Africa of Win Over Lesotho for Fielding Ineligible Player

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Delta Police Begin Enforcement on Tinted Glass, Siren, Number Plate Regulations October 2

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Uroye Calls for Calm, Dialogue as Tension Heightens Over Killing of Jerry, Consoles Family

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • At 70, I Owe All Life Has Given Me to God – Chief Ejovi

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

NEWSNET NIGERIA Published By: Morex Consult Limited - Since 2020.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Local News
    • National
  • Politics
  • Economy
    • Oil and Gas
  • Crime
  • Education
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • Sports
  • MORE
    • Interview
    • Editorial
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Science & Tech
    • Videos

NEWSNET NIGERIA Published By: Morex Consult Limited - Since 2020.