Executive arm should give way for the independence of judiciary -Azeez

Hammed Taiwo Azeez is a graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State where he bagged his first degree in law before proceeding to Nigerian Law School and was called to the Bar in 2012, he had his youth service in Ilorin. He later obtained his Masters degree in Law from the University of Ilorin, Kwara State.
In this interview with JIMOH SULYMAN, he shared his thoughts on the consequences of the annual leave of court among other sundry issues. Excerpt.
A non-governmental organization, Access to Justice, AJ, has called on the CJN and NJC, to reconsider the vacation periods of heads of court and make new policies regulating the length of time. What consequences do you think annual leave of court have on the judicial process in the country ?
The annual vacation is statutory to all superior courts which they are all entitled to legally. nothing is wrong with the annual vacation in itself.
But the peculiar situation we find ourselves is the source of our concern, the time is far spent due to the hiatus during pandemic and the JUSUN strike, but a lot need to be done to rectify it.
What are the measures you think can be taken to rescue the situation?
In my candid opinion, on measures to be taken to rescue the situation are not far fetched, besides I don’t think it should raise any dust whatsoever, the issue of regulating the length of time upon which the court will go on vacation.
Firstly, like I said, annual vacation is statutory to all superior courts which they are all entitled to legally. However, with the time wasting impact of the lockdown during Covid-19 pandemic and the recent JUSUN strike that followed it in 2020/2021, I am of the view that, the judiciary and the executive arm of government would have to sit at the table and find a way to do away with 2021 vacation so as to hasten the already delayed legal process and justice delivery, also to reduce the paperwork laying on the table of our judges during the strike and the Covid-19 break which affected the nation negatively.
In conclusion, I enjoin the executive arms of government to give way for the independence of judiciary because if that had been achieved, the Judiciary wouldn’t have any cause to go on strike, hence we wouldn’t be discussing the issue of the time wasted and also judiciary should strive to recruit capable hands as court staff, for better service to the nation ,May God bless our dear country Nigeria.