By Adeola Akinbobola, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
With the 2027 elections approaching, concerns over judicial integrity, electoral justice, and public trust in democratic institutions have continued to dominate national discourse.
Recently, stakeholders from government, civil society, the legal profession, and development organisations gathered to find practical pathways to strengthen judicial accountability and restore confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.
The two-day Strategic Review Meeting on Strengthening Citizen-Led Judicial Accountability through Coordinated Civil Society Action, convened by ActionAid Nigeria under its CiTi ACT Project, became more than a routine stakeholder engagement.
It evolved into a platform for critical reflection on the state of Nigeria’s judiciary, the future of electoral justice, and the role of citizens in driving institutional reforms.
The meeting brought together representatives of the Federal Ministry of Justice, members of the Independent Judicial Accountability Panel (IJAP), the Coalition of Judicial Actors for Reform (COJAR), civil society organisations, legal experts, media practitioners, and governance advocates.
In her remarks, Mrs Suwaiba Dankabo, the Deputy Country Director and Director of Programmes at ActionAid Nigeria, said an independent, accountable, and responsive judiciary remained indispensable to democratic governance.
Dankabo stressed that citizens must be empowered to actively engage institutions, demand accountability, and participate in shaping governance outcomes.
She highlighted a growing recognition among governance experts that weak justice institutions undermined efforts to address broader societal challenges, from corruption and insecurity to human rights abuses and electoral disputes.
“Dialogue alone cannot deliver reform. Lasting change requires coordinated action, sustained engagement, clear accountability mechanisms, and collective ownership of agreed priorities,” she said.
Why judicial accountability matters, Nigeria’s judiciary occupied a unique position in the country’s democratic architecture.
Yet, public confidence in the institution had fluctuated over the years, fueled by allegations of corruption, conflicting court orders, delays in justice delivery, and controversial election judgments.
The Independent Judicial Accountability Panel (IJAP) used the occasion to present an extensive set of recommendations to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
According to IJAP member, Barrister Sechap Tsokwa, the concentration of multiple responsibilities in a single office creates accountability concerns and limited transparency.
He said that separating some of these responsibilities and creating deputy positions for heads of courts would improve institutional checks and balances within the judiciary.
Tsokwa also called for a more proactive National Judicial Council in disciplining judicial officers who abused their powers, particularly through the misuse of ex-parte orders.
He proposed that judges with unresolved disciplinary complaints should not be appointed to election petition tribunals.
The recommendation also sought to ensure that only judicial officers with impeccable records adjudicate politically sensitive cases that often determined electoral outcomes.
He further proposed the establishment of an online whistleblowing platform, where citizens can report judicial misconduct and unethical practices.
Tsokwa noted that technology could play a transformative role in promoting transparency and strengthening public oversight of the judiciary.
“IJAP recommends live coverage and electronic recording of court proceedings to enhance transparency and public scrutiny,” he said.
The recommendation aligned with global trends where courts increasingly leverage technology to improve openness and accessibility.
Among the recommendations was a proposal to reduce the timeline for determining election petitions from 180 days to a maximum of 120 days.
Tsokwa said that the current system frequently allowed candidates to spend significant periods in office while their electoral legitimacy remained under judicial scrutiny.
He said that IJAP also recommended that pre-election matters should be fully determined before elections took place, reducing uncertainty and preventing multiple litigations after polls.
Tsokwa said the recommendations would reduce delays and improved the efficiency of election dispute resolution.
He said that after reviewing the legislation, IJAP identified several ambiguities relating to electronic transmission of election results.
According to him, inconsistent language in various sections of the Act could create uncertainty during future elections and potentially generate avoidable litigation.
To address these concerns, he proposed amendments that would make electronic transmission mandatory and establish clearer procedures for result verification and collation.
Tsokwa expressed concerns that delayed compliance with regional court decisions could undermine Nigeria’s international standing and weakened public confidence in the rule of law.
He stressed the importance of conducting transparent investigations into allegations of human rights violations and ensuring victims received justice and compensation.
The meeting also highlighted the increasingly important role civil society organisations played the in justice sector reforms.
Mrs Lucy James, the Executive Director of the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), presented evidence of how citizen-focused interventions were helping to improve access to justice across Nigeria.
Over the past three years, she explained that PPDC had supported no fewer than 20,000 detainees through various justice sector initiatives.
She said PPDC lawyers secured the release of thousands of individuals who had remained in detention in spite of not being convicted of any crime.
James said he linked dozens of courts; linked custodial centres to courts digitally, conducted detention facility audits, and supported remote court hearings.
Observers say these achievements demonstrate how non-state actors can complement government efforts to strengthen justice delivery and improve accountability.
Representing the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi , Assistant Chief State Counsel, Mrs Atanda Timilehin, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to justice sector reforms.
She acknowledged the role of citizens, civil society organisations, development partners, legal professionals, and the media in promoting an accountable justice system.
Timilehin said the ministry of Justice remained committed to expanding access to justice through legal aid, alternative dispute resolution, technology-driven case management systems, and capacity development for judicial personnel.
She assured stakeholders that the ministry would consider recommendations emerging from the meeting as part of ongoing reform initiatives.
Timilehin said the gathering was important to achieve a credible, accessible, and accountable justice system was the bedrock of democratic governance, economic stability, and public trust.
According to her, the ministry of Justice recognises the indispensable role of citizens, civil society, the Bar and the Bench, the media, and development partners in advancing a justice sector that works for all, especially the most vulnerable.
“We acknowledge the progress already made under the CiTi ACT Project in amplifying citizen voices, facilitating dialogue across institutions, and supporting reforms that promote transparency and efficiency.
“It is an opportunity to move from aspiration to execution: to translate commitments into measurable outcomes, and principles into practice.
“We are committed to deepening inter-agency coordination to reduce duplication, close reform gaps, and accelerate decision-making,” she said.
She said integrity, ethics, and capacity, building capacity across the justice chain investigators, prosecutors, court administrators, and judicial officers remained a priority.
Timilehin applauded professional bodies and CSOs advancing ethics, continuing education, and peer accountability.
She encouraged practical outcomes, such as a streamlined coordination framework with defined roles, timelines, and responsibilities.
Timilehin further explained that the ministry had supported judiciary in ensuring that virtual hearing commenced during COVID lockdowns to enhance easy dispensation of just and as well engaged in capacity buildings of state counsel and judges to enhanced service delivery.
While participants acknowledged progress made in recent years, there was widespread agreement that significant challenges remained.
For many participants, the significance of the gathering hinged not only in the proposals advanced but also in the willingness of diverse actors to engage in conversations about the future of Nigeria’s justice system.
As the country continues to navigate complex political, economic, and security challenges, stakeholders say the quality of its judiciary will remain a critical determinant of democratic stability.(NANfeatures)
Edited by Chijioke Okoronkwo
***If used, please credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria.