Loss of Con­fidence in the Justice Sector is a Recipe for Anarchy – FHC Chief Judge

Honourable Justice John Tsoho, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, says loss of con­fidence in the justice sector is a recipe for anarchy.

He has therefore cautioned Judges in Nigeria on the need to seriously guard against avoidable delays in the dis­pensation of Justice.

Justice Tsoho made the assertion while delivering a keynote address at the 2023 sensitisation seminar organ­ised by the Nigeria Deposit In­surance Corporation, (NDIC), for Federal High Court Judges in Uyo on Thursday.

He emphasised that when a Bank fails, it takes a large part of the economy with it. Adding that the collapse of an institution could cause mon­ey supply to drop, leading to rise in unemployment.

In his words “Loss of con­fidence in the justice sector is a recipe for anarchy. Strength­ening depositors’ confidence in Banks and other financial institutions through speedy dispensation of Justice re­mains a vital part of ensuring financial stability.

“Inordinate delays culmi­nating in backlog of cases constitute the greatest chal­lenge before the Courts and this easily erodes public confi­dence in the Judiciary. Judges must seriously guard against avoidable delays in the dispen­sation of Justice.

See Also

UK Court Jails Nigerian Doctor Richard Akinrolabu Three Years for £268,000 NHS Fraud

“The importance of this seminar to train Judges of the Federal High Court on Deposit Money Insurance as drawn out from the theme of the seminar, “Strengthen­ing depositors’ confidence in Banks and other financial institutions through speedy dispensation of Justice”, cannot be over-emphasized at this time.

“On the one hand, assur­ances of confidence and trust is necessary to assuage growing and strident fears by depositors about internet fraud, insider dealings, and tampering with depositor’s money, mismanagement, security of such monies and items of value and other de­posits in the custody of the Banks and other financial institutions”

Tsoho noted that on the other hand the seminar provided grounds for FHC Judges who are also citi­zens of Nigeria and who are not unaware of those prob­lems, to discuss and review the various approaches to strengthen the regulatory framework and functions of the NDIC at occasion where cases and applications were filed before them for the nec­essary orders and decisions to be made.