A candidate in the just concluded election of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) for the position of president, Barrister Joe-Kyari Gadzama (SAN), has promised to pursue the implementation of radical changes in the judicial system for quick dispensation of justice and to seek enhanced welfare of lawyers if elected into office.
Gadzama told newsmen at the sidelines of the recent NBA Gwagwalada 10th year Anniversary Celebration that he plans to uplift the status of legal practitioners in the country to make the profession more stable and attractive to the public.
“I have a lot of plans for the NBA, the dispensation of justice and for the society. We have a major duty to promote the welfare of lawyers, especially the younger ones who find it difficult to find their feet in the profession because the system has not been working as it should.
“For example, 50% of about 5000 lawyers, who graduate every year do not get placement anywhere to work. About one quarter of them end up in some disciples or work that are not related to law while another quarter do not get anything at all to do. We, as senior members of the profession, have a duty to come together and tackle their welfare problems.
“I remember vividly what I enjoyed as a young lawyer when I will proudly go to the CAC to register companies for people or go to the courts to make money for myself but it is not the same case today. Today, the young ones are often intimidated or harassed while trying to do their duties,” he said.
On the reforms of the justice system, Gadzama said the matter must be approached from both the civil and criminal aspects of dispensation of justice pointing out that there are undue delays in the process of delivering judgements in Nigeria.
On how to tackle the problem, Gadzama said there should be an enforcement mechanism to ensure compliance with rules apart from the adoption of the use of virtual hearings as a way to decongest the courts while scheduling of cases should also become a virtual process.
“We have to amend the rules to ensure that clients and lawyers are given cases according to their own time rather than lumping everyone together and keeping them waiting in courts until 4pm or 5pm before telling them it will not be possible to hear their cases again until another date. We must fight this process to ensure that justice is not only delivered but is seen to be delivered,” he stated.
