Activist Slams Judges For Shunning Physical Proceedings In Nsukka High Courts

A civil rights activist, Nze Kanayo Chukwumezie, Wednesday, decried delays in court proceedings at various high courts in Nsukka division of Enugu State due to failure of judges to physically appear during court proceedings.

Our correspondent reports that the judges, most of them living in Enugu metropolis, avoid visiting courts in Nsukka zone using the excuses of alleged kidnappings and robbery along Enugu-Opi-Nsukka road.

They rather resort to visual entertaining of most cases, with its attendant technical hitches.

The ineffectiveness of the procedure, according to concerned lawyers, is delaying trials of suspects. This informed their protest, Tuesday, against the non-appearance of judges for the past two years in high courts in the area. They blocked the entrance and exit roads to the court with their vehicles for several hours while chanting solidarity songs.

According to Mr Sonny Okoro, Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Nsukka Branch, “For the past two years, judges of the high courts have not been appearing physically in courts in Nsukka zone but said that they are using visual trials.

“We have no problem with visual proceedings of the court because it is recognised by law, but here in the Nsukka zone, the courts have no visual facilities.

“That is why most of the time they use the court clerk’s mobile phone or one old computer system to connect Nsukka court and the judge who is staying in Enugu. This present situation has prolonged and denied justice to many litigants as some of them are wondering why their cases have continued to linger and incur additional costs travelling to Enugu from Nsukka to hear their cases.

“We are surprised that the judges are citing insecurity on the Enugu to Nsukka road as the reason for their non-physical appearance in the court when the state government had beefed up security on that road by deploying armored tanks and many security checkpoints on that road.”

Chukwumezie decried the situation. He said, “It is the duty of the government to provide security for the judges to operate. Delaying court proceedings under any guise is a violation of human rights of those being tried. It is also the duty of the government to equip courts for visual entertainment of cases. I blame the government, and also implore the judges to sit up because of sensitive roles they play in building a stable society.

“Moreso, what is wrong in some of them living at the university community of Nsukka? Must they live in Enugu, and be travelling to Nsukka to preside over these cases? The state can be more proactive by providing transportation logistics with security for the judges each time they have cases to attend to at Nsukka. While this measure can be on a stop-gap, equipping these courts with state-of-the-arts facilities for visual trials should commence immediately.

“Justice delayed is justice denied. Also, justice must not only be dispensed but must be clearly seen to be done. Once justice is denied the masses, then the last straw that people hang and depend on is cut. The dictate of checks and balances demands that the judiciary has everything within its powers to make the executive and legislative arms of government ensure adequate security for their legal operations.

“Not doing that means their abdication of sacred role in governance. Therefore, if Nsukka judges operate from Enugu, then it means that justice is asleep in Nsukka and this is dangerous.”