The President of the Court of Appeal, Monica Dongban-Mensem, has called for the elevation of the National Judicial Institute (NJI) to a Judicial University. According to her, this move would enable the institute to leverage retired jurists to groom the future judicial workforce, thereby reducing the high cost of external training. The initiative was announced at a farewell lunch for retiring Justice Hamma Barka, who will be leaving the Abuja Division of the court on 17 April after attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 years.
The Appeal Court president praised Justice Barka's remarkable legacy and expressed gratitude for his invaluable service to the Judiciary and the nation. She noted that the special sitting, which was attended by 63 Justices from various divisions of the court, heard a total of 330 appeals covering civil, criminal, and commercial matters.
The institution of a Judicial University would likely have a significant impact on the judiciary and the country as a whole. It would provide a platform for the development of judicial skills and knowledge, and could potentially reduce the reliance on external training facilities.
The elevation of the NJI to a Judicial University is a step in the right direction, but it raises questions about the feasibility of such a move. The Chief Justice of Nigeria must now take concrete steps to make this vision a reality. The success of this initiative will depend on the availability of resources and the willingness of the judiciary to adapt to new ideas. As Nigerians, we should be concerned about the potential impact of this move on the judiciary's ability to deliver justice to the people. The judiciary's ability to provide quality training and development opportunities for its personnel will be crucial in determining the success of this initiative.
