LEVERAGING ON THE OMBUDSMAN AS A VERITABLE SYSTEM FOR DECLUTTERING THE COURTS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

There is a saying that justice delayed is justice denied. This is most applicable in civil cases where facts get distorted by repetitions and delays. Evidences get destroyed by human factors and key witnesses may get deceased while a case is subjudice in court. It is well known that cases pending before the courts in Nigeria are delayed by several factors. The courts are in daunted with so many cases most not making headways because of one issue or the other. Most of these issues include but not limited to the archaic long hand writing by the judicial officers presiding over these courts, constant transfers of judicial officers from one judicial divisions to another without conclusion of cases pending before them resulting to cases starting de novo, lack of adequate funding of the judiciary making court sittings a herculean task in poorly furnished and lit courtrooms, delay tactics by some indolent lawyers etc. Case delays in courts are multifaceted and this article will shed some lights on the ways and means the ombudsman can be successfully leveraged as one of the channels to decongesting the courts in Nigeria.