Some lawyers in Lagos State have called for the adoption of ‘front-loading’ process by courts in all states of the federation as part of the efforts to facilitate justice delivery.
The lawyers told the News Agency of Nigeria in separate interviews on Saturday that the adoption of the procedure would help develop Nigeria’s judicial system.
They described front-loading as a process of filing litigation documents in courts ahead of trial to avoid delays.
They explained that the documents give parties in the suit prior knowledge of the components of the case and enable them prepare ahead of it.
Paul Umuzuru, a lawyer, explained that front-loading was one of the major ways in which the judiciary could eliminate delays in justice delivery.
Umuzuru urged lawyers and litigants to join hands in promoting speedy administration of justice by avoiding frivolous applications for adjournment.
According to Umuzuru, if the courts in all the states of the federation adopt the process, it will eliminate any element of surprise in the suit and also ease the task of the judges.
A lawyer and social critic in the metropolis, Joseph Odeh, underscored the need for courts to embrace front-loading as a mark of advancement.
Odeh noted that the process had been adopted in some other parts of the world, adding that it was necessary for our judicial system to advance and promote administration of justice.
“In this era of civilisation, we cannot afford to remain behind while the whole world is advancing,” he said.
Ifeanyi Ibe, a lawyer and rights activist, lauded the Lagos State Government for adopting front-loading since 2004.
Ibe said that it had helped to speed up the judicial process in the interest of justice.
He urged states that were yet to embrace the process, to do so.
Also speaking, a legal practitioner and social critic, Emeka Onyekwere, urged states to make front-loading part of their Court rules.
Onyekwere argued that there was no point delaying cases in court for too long when there were better ways to facilitate their disposal.
The lawyer urged states that had yet to adopt the process, to do so without further delay in order to encourage speedy dispensation of justice.
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