After months of in-depth evaluations of the speed of justice delivery across Nigerian States’ High Courts before and during the Covid-19 Pandemic, Citizens’ Gavel announces the official launch of the research publication.
“It is difficult to change what cannot be measured. The analysis of State High Courts according to their speed of justice delivery became necessary in the absence of data to benchmark the performance of High Courts of States. Hence, stakeholders need adequate data to improve justice delivery in Nigeria to make informed decisions”. – Nelson Olanipekun, Team Lead, Citizens’ Gavel.
According to Gavel’s research team, the research publication, which will be the second edition of its kind, will be accessible to the public from Monday 7th of February, 2022. The government, stakeholders in the Justice sector and the general public will be able to make informed decisions regarding the speed of justice delivery in their respective States of the Federation.
“Incidentally, the year 2020 saw the advent of Covid-19, which ushered in worldwide changes in societal activities. The lockdowns and widespread limitations on day-to-day life hugely impacted the justice delivery sector, the research is thus a way to evaluate through data, how Covid-19 has affected the dispensation of Justice in Nigeria”.
– Femi Ajibade, operations’ lead, citizens’ gavel
The publication gives the estimated number of legal problems per State, how long a case stays in Court’s docket from filing to judgment, and the rank of each State’s high courts vis-a-vis other States in Nigeria.
According to the research lead, Nelson Olanipekun, “one of the major aims of the research publication is to stimulate the activities of States’ judiciary towards seeking more pathways to increasing the pace of justice delivery, and also, provide a basis for evidence-based advocacy for more resource allocation in areas of man-power and tech-for-justice tools”.
Sequel to the launched publication, Gavel hopes to help the Nigerian justice sector overcome its slow-paced justice delivery process through research and innovative technology in partnership with the National Judicial Council Justice Information Technology Policy Committee and willing states High Court.
The publication, with support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa, OSIWA, will help both government and development partners know how to improve the pace of justice delivery in Nigeria and stimulate the “can do better spirit” among States.
ABOUT GAVEL: Citizens’ Gavel is a civic tech NGO that aims to create a world where justice delivery is fast and efficient regardless of economic or political demographics.
Signed
Communications Associate, Citizens’ Gavel.
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