The National Conference Standing Committee on Law, Judiciary and Human Rights on Thursday adopted a resolution that all election petitions should be concluded before elected officials take their oaths of office.
The committee also recommended the establishment of a Constitutional Court by the Federal Government to minimise the delay in the dispensation of cases bordering on the constitution.
The Deputy Chairman of the committee, Prof. Auwalu Yadudu, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that there was a critical need for the country to get its electoral matters right.
Yadudu said: “There are a few things that we have come to a decision or a resolution which we recommend to the main committee.
“Especially for today, there are ways, means and measures that will help minimise delays in the administration of justice.
“Some of the ways and measures we have recommended to minimise delays in electoral matters is the adoption of the Justice Uwais Committee, which urges that all election petitions be resolved before an elected official takes office.
“Secondly, we have also recommended for the adoption at the federal level of a Constitutional Court, which will sort out a few things that will also minimise delays.
“We have also recommended for the adoption of what we call Peoples Courts and Small Claims Courts.
“These are courts that deal with small matters, which you don’t need to go to High Courts or Area Courts.
“It’s small-like ordinary way of resolving disputes.
“We have recommended that.”
NAN reports that the committee also discussed the issue of appointing a state’s Chief Judge, which generated some controversy between state governors and the National Judicial Council recently.
It, therefore, agreed that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mariam Aloma Mukhtar, be visited while other stakeholders should also be invited on other issues, but some members expressed contrary views.
Yadudu said: “We did consider the desirability of inviting stakeholders having to do with all issues pertaining to our terms of reference to interact with them, to get their perspectives on the issues before us.
“This is not only limited to the appointment of a Chief Judge.
“It has to do with prisons.
“It has to do with delays in justice delivery.
“The decision we took was that we are constrained of time and we do not want to drag this for undue delay.
“Therefore, we have decided that this committee has sufficient expertise and experience and value to address the issue.
“Regardless of that, we would wish to pay a courtesy call on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who is the head of the judiciary in the country, to pay our regard to the office.
“Perhaps, if there is any intervention that she wants, we will hear her.”
The committee expressed concerns about the constraint of time and said it might consider applying for extension if it was desirable to ensure it to do a thorough job.
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