Some lawyers in Lagos have urged judges to ensure speedy trial of cases and to discourage frivolous applications by lawyers aimed at distorting the course of justice.
The lawyers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday that the filing of frivolous motions by some lawyers was responsible for the delay in the speedy dispensation of justice.
Speaking with NAN, a lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Anthony Makolo, therefore, called for the enactment of a new Administration of Criminal Justice Law to help check the trend.
“They have to come up with a new administrative criminal justice law; and all forms of frivolous applications have to be stopped.
“Judges or magistrates should not entertain such frivolous applications,’’ he said.
Another lawyer and social critic, Mr Femi Ogundare described the filing of frivolous motions by some lawyers as ‘most annoying’.
He said: “The manner in which some prosecutors handle criminal cases, is one that raises a lot of questions and if I must add, even tension.
“Even where these accused persons have not been admitted to bail, some prosecutors still come to court and ask for unnecessary adjournments, thereby allowing these persons to linger in custody.’’
Similarly, Mr Emenike Nnoromele, a lawyer, said it was shameful that lawyers were particularly responsible for the delay in the administration of justice in the country.
He said that even where the facts of a case were clear, some lawyers still devised means of prolonging the case in court.
“To ensure speedy justice delivery, lawyers must desist from the habit of filing frivolous applications in court.
“It is no longer news that both civil and criminal cases linger on for several years in our courts with little or no progress.
“It is discouraging and must be remedied,” he said. (NAN)
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