You Will Have A Legacy If You Embrace Radical Reforms – Agbakoba To Chief Justice Kekere-Ekun

A former Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) president, Olisa Agbakoba, has said for the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to have a legacy, she must embrace radical reforms.

Olisa Agbakoba said the judiciary needs radical and transformational reforms to regain its lost respect and trust in the eyes of the citizens.

In a statement on Friday, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Agbakoba, said the last time the judiciary had meaningful reform was under the late Dahiru Musdapher as Chief Justice of Nigeria.

He said, “As we witness the swearing-in of Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, marking another ceremonial transfer of the judicial baton, the focus must shift beyond the ceremony. The real question is whether this moment will usher in the long-overdue radical reforms that our judiciary desperately needs.

“The last Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) who initiated meaningful reform was the Late Dahiru Musdapher. I had the privilege of serving as his consultant on Speed of Justice. Despite his short tenure of just six months, CJN Musdapher made significant strides by setting up a high-powered 29 member committee that produced a transformational report. He personally led a team to present these far-reaching judicial reforms to the then President of the Senate, David Mark. However, once the CJN’s back was turned, these vital reforms were forgotten.

“The potential legacy of the new CJN lies in embracing transformational and radical reforms, with the fundamental objective of overhauling case management to drive the efficiency and effectiveness of our courts.”