Yakubu Ventim
A Jos Based legal practitioner and A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress APC, Chief Garba Pwul, SAN, has disclosed that there is a need for proper equipping of the courts with the- state- of- the art gadgets, as well as training of the Judges and judicial staff on ICT devices for speedy dispensation of cases in Nigeria.
He made this disclosure in an interview with our medium in Jos, saying that the adjudication in Nigeria is gaining more public confidence in recent times.
Pwul said that the recent autonomy granted to the judiciary by the Federal Government would go a long way in speeding adjudication in our courts.
Garba Pwull stressed that Wikipedia defines adjudication as a legal process of resolving a dispute or deciding a case.
It says further that when a case is brought, courts identify the rights of the parties at that particular moment by analyzing what was, in law, the rights and wrongs of their actions when they occurred.
Pwul said “It’s obvious recently that the Nigerian Courts are doing very well in handling cases.
“And I believe if they are well equipped, incidences of cases spending 20 to 30 years before judgments are granted, will be a thing of the past”.
“Just as the murder case of Late Peter Rinji, a 300 Level student at the University of Jos, which I am handling on behalf of the Plateau State Government, took less than a year for us to complete our prosecution.
“If it were not for the two months’ strike of the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), we could have commenced the defense.
“That is one case which is being tried expeditiously having aroused public interest. This is because if we don’t prosecution speedily, tension may likely hover in the atmosphere.
“I am so happy that we are through with our prosecution before Justice David Mann, of High Court II, after taking seven witnesses, and defense will commence at the next adjourned dates of Sept 19 and Sept 20,” he explained.
According to him, “everybody is waiting for justice to be served more so that there is an element of police brutality, which is being condemned across the world.”
He asserted that the killing of Rinji on May 12, 2020, by a dismissed Police officer, Sgt Auta Aruwa, was something close to the killing of George Floyd of the United States of America.
The SAN said, “To avoid people taking to the streets, we must ensure that justice is not denied, as “Justice delayed, is Justice denied.”
“We must also be aware that “Justice rushed, is Justice crashed.” Therefore, in as much as we are out for speedy trial, we must also ensure that sufficient opportunity is given to everyone concerned, especially both the prosecution and the defense to put in their best,
“It’s on the truth that justice is based and not falsehood, so witnesses should always tell the courts exactly what they know and tell the courts the truth and nothing but the truth,” he admonished.
Pwul, who wished the Judges and all the Judicial staff a blissful and glorious vocation, expressed optimism, that on resumption in Sept 13, the judiciary would fare well technically, for speedy dispensing of cases.
