A coalition of retired judges, legal practitioners, and governance experts has called for a more effective and accountable judicial system, describing it as essential to credible elections, the protection of citizens' rights, and the stability of Nigeria's democracy.
Strategic Review Meeting in Abuja
The Independent Judicial Accountability Panel (IJAP) made the call during a two-day Strategic Review Meeting on Strengthening Citizen-Led Judicial Accountability through Coordinated Civil Society Action. The event was convened by ActionAid Nigeria under the CiTi ACT Project in collaboration with the Coalition of Judicial Actors for Reform (COJAR), IJAP, and other partners in Abuja.
Participants noted that public confidence in democratic institutions depends largely on the judiciary's ability to dispense justice fairly, transparently, and without undue influence, particularly in the resolution of election-related disputes. The panel stressed that strengthening judicial accountability would not only improve election justice but also reinforce the rule of law and deepen citizens' trust in the courts.
Call for Sustainable Reform
The Deputy Country Director and Director of Programmes at ActionAid Nigeria, Suwaiba Muhammad Dankabo, said judicial accountability goes beyond the legal sector and is central to public trust, citizens' rights, and equitable access to justice. She emphasised that while previous engagements under COJAR had generated important discussions and recommendations, sustainable reform would require coordinated implementation, accountability mechanisms, and collective ownership of reform priorities.
“Nigeria stands at a critical juncture where public trust in the judiciary is urgently needed. We must move beyond identifying challenges to implementing solutions that strengthen democratic institutions and ensure justice for all,” she said.
Recommendations from IJAP
A member of the Independent Judicial Accountability Panel (IJAP), Barrister Sechap Tsokwa, recommended reducing the concentration of powers in the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN). He also proposed involving Supreme Court justices from other Commonwealth jurisdictions in investigations involving allegations against the CJN or other apex court judges, in order to strengthen transparency and public confidence.
Other recommendations included greater transparency in judicial appointments, citizen participation in vetting judicial nominees, improved recruitment and training of judicial personnel, enhanced remuneration and retirement benefits for judges, and the establishment of an online whistleblowing platform for reporting judicial misconduct.
Civil Society Interventions
The Executive Director of the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Lucy James, said the organisation had automated 61 courts across 12 states, digitally linked nine custodial centres to courts to facilitate remote hearings, conducted several detention facility audits, and archived over 11,000 court records. She said these interventions demonstrate how coordinated civil society action can help close justice gaps and promote institutional accountability.
Government Commitment
The Assistant Chief State Counsel at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Atanda Timilehin, representing the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to strengthening judicial accountability while safeguarding judicial independence. She noted that the ministry played a key role in supporting the judiciary's adoption of virtual hearings during the COVID-19 pandemic and continues to invest in capacity development for judges and legal officers. She added that the ministry remains open to receiving recommendations and action plans emerging from the meeting for possible integration into ongoing justice sector reforms.
