The Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association and Chairman, Human Rights’ Committee of the Nigeria Bar Association, Ijebu –Ode branch; Mr. Moruff Balogun has applauded Governor Dapo Abiodun for his request to the President of the Court of Appeal to create a division of the Court in Ogun State.
The Governor had days earlier, reportedly harped on the need to establish a branch of Court of Appeal in the state for speedy dispensation of justice and solicited help from Justices of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, led by its President, Justice Monica Dongbam-Mensem, to facilitate it.
Similarly, the Ogun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade SAN, also solicited the creation of Appeal Court in the state when he received Justices of the Court of Appeal, Ibadan, led by its President, Justice Monica Dongbam-Mensem, who noted that 80 percent of cases before the Court of Appeal in Ibadan originated from the state, which led the President and other Justices of the Court of Appeal to visit the state to clear all accumulated cases.
Reacting to the development, Balogun considered the noticeable delay in treating cases pending at the Court of Appeal, Ibadan division as quite frustrating to both justice and the litigants.
The human rights lawyer who made this known in a release made available to The Daily Crucible on Saturday, stated that a good number of parties/litigants in Ogun State identified the Court of Appeal, Ibadan division, as the major stumbling block to quick justice dispensation due to workload of cases before it.
According to him, the record showed that almost 80 percent of the cases pending before the Court of Appeal, Ibadan division emanated from Ogun State; arguing that, having a division of the said court in Ogun State is the best way to decongest the workload of cases, ensure justice is not buried alive, and also forestall the litigants from resorting to self-help.
“In as much as the law allows the litigants to ventilate their grievances and dissatisfactions further to the court of appeal and even up to the Supreme Court after the decisions of the trial courts, one cannot therefore stop them from exercising such right.
“However, lawyers too are urged to desist from filling frivolous appeal. Not all the decisions of the trial courts deserve to be appealed against. Lawyers are expected to advise their clients within the ambit of the law,” he stated.
He also appealed to all the stakeholders in Ogun State to join hands and voices with the Governor in his request to have the Court of Appeal division in the Gateway State.
“As a lawyer, how would you convince and explain to a client whose appeal is 7 or 8 years old without any green light? Honestly, this is not the best for the proper and quick dispensation of justice.
“Justice delayed is not only just denied, it is justice circumvented, justice mocked and the system of justice undermined.
Once again, the good people of Ogun state support the Governor’s request, and we pray it comes into reality within time.
God bless Ogun state,” he concluded.
