News

The Mac Arthur Foundation has held an award ceremony for the recipients of its MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions (MACEI). The ceremony which took place at its head office in Chicago, Illinois featured the reading of the citations of the awardees and presentation of plaques.

Access to Justice was represented at the event by the Executive Director, Mr. Joseph Otteh and board member Prof. Chris Ohurogu who received the plaque on AJ’s behalf. Also in attendance were representatives from MacArthur Foundation’s Nigeria Office including Dr. Kole Shettima and Mr. Godwin Odo.

The President of the MacArthur Foundation Mr. Jonathan F. Fanton, commended Access to justice for its work aimed at ending extra-judicial killings as part of a wider mission to promote the rule of law in Nigeria. AJ’s work in reestablishing a functional Coronial System was particularly mentioned as one key aspect of this effort.

The event was an opportunity to interact with several other people and groups involved different aspects of development work.

Access to Justice has made written representations to the NJC and the President of the Court of Appeal asking for a thorough investigation by the NJC (and other anti-corruption agencies) of extremely disturbing allegations of (presumably) illicit ex-parte communication between two judges of the first Osun state Election Petition Tribunal and the lead counsel to the Governor of Osun State, Kunle Kalejaiye (SAN), retained by the Governor to defend him in the suit challenging the victory of the Governor and his party, Peoples Democratic Party, in the 2007 elections in Osun State. A report of these allegations was featured in this week’s edition of the news magazine TheNews under the headline ‘‘The scandal of Judges: How Osun Tribunal was compromised’’. Click on the link to view AJ’s letters to the NJC and the President of the Court of Appeal.

In 2007, the Lagos State Government promulgated The Coroner System Law that is now in force. The new law establishes a new system of death investigation in the State, and imposes important civic responsibilities on individuals in both private and official capacities. The Coroner’s law is intended to strengthen the security of human life by investigating suspicious or questionable deaths, and enabling the state take action necessary to forestall the repetition or continuance of circumstances capable of bringing about avoidable loss of human life. This law will help curtail deaths that come about as a result of impunity – such as extrajudicial killings by law enforcement and vigilante groups – as well as those that arise from careless management of human health – such as medical negligence.

Access to Justice, on Wednesday, 28th May 2008, held a Press Conference and called for action against the shocking, barbaric and inhuman treatment and deportation of a Nigeria Citizen, Joseph Adumekwe by the Gabonese Government. Mr. Joseph Adumekwe resided legally with his family in the suburbs of Libreville, Gabon, until his arbitrary deportation on Friday, 25th April, 2008 by the Gabonese authorities (Immigration and Police). On the 16th of December 2007, Mr. Adumekwe was taken into custody by the Gabonese police for interrogation over the whereabouts of one Mr. Uche Ekejiuba – a member of Mr. Adumekwe’s kindred union in Libreville, who was wanted in connection with a theft against the Gabonese Immigration Authority (CEDOC).

Access to Justice (AJ) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) are working together, and in collaboration with other stakeholders, to review the current Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules and make proposals for reform to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). The CJN, Hon. Justice I.L. Kutigi has accepted to receive our proposals towards reform of the rules, and has asked that all stakeholders be involved in the review process.

As part of its efforts to enhance respect for the rule of law in Nigeria, maintain the authority of the courts, and ensure Federal and State governments adhere faithfully to the prevailing rule of law policy, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in collaboration with Access to Justice (AJ), has launched a Judgement/Order Compliance Registry Programme (JOCRP), under its Rule of Law Initiative. This programme is specially designed to enable the NBA confront impunity to court orders by ensuring that all court judgments, orders and directives are complied with at all levels, and among the different branches and departments of government.

Accordingly, the NBA has mandated the establishment of a Judgment Registry in all of its 88 local branches. Lawyers and litigants are enjoined to register, at the registry in their local NBA branches, all orders/judgments received against governments or other public authorities from May 1999 to date which have not been complied with. This initiative is intended to generate a comprehensive list of orders/judgments (including monetary awards) yet to be implemented and enforced. For full details of this programme and the procedures to be followed after a Judgment/Order is registered

Reforming for Justice is a dissecting review of the progress Nigeria has made towards reforming justice institutions since the transition to democracy in 1999, in various thematic areas. It evaluates the strengths/weaknesses of efforts to galvanize change and improvement to different aspects of the justice landscape, identifying the achievements as well as the challenges that still remain in the field. It also suggests ways these challenges can be engaged and dealt with, in as strategic, dynamic, and timely a manner as possible. It provides a comprehensive reference material for those interested in the reform of the justice sector in Nigeria.