From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
A Civil Society Organisation,Speak Out Africa Initiative has launched an initiative tagged “Project Fix Nigeria” aimed at garnering support and building the confidence of citizens for the nation’s judiciary.
The Lead Director of the organization Kenneth Eze while announcing this at a media conference in Abuja yesterday said the project involves the launch of an electoral justice portal aimed at strengthening the administration of electoral justice and accountability.
Eze explained that the portal “FixJustice.NG” would address major areas including the 2023 election court tracking, election tribunal monitoring, the Justice App and perception poll survey amongst others.
He added that apart from instilling public trust and confidence in the judiciary, the project would promote accountability in electoral justice
“The FixJustice.NG project is a justice-focused project aimed at instilling public trust and confidence in the courts/ judiciary and fostering accountability; with a view to ultimately end perceived incidences of electoral judicial compromise thus, heralding a new reform in the administration of electoral justice & accountability in Nigeria in gaining political stability and legitimacy. Hence, strengthens access to justice by citizens especially the marginalized.
Commendation to Judiciary:
Before we begin to highlight a few of the challenges and offer solutions to them, it is necessary to commend the judiciary and our court for their good work; for some of the decision it has taken that has reinforced faith in its determination and capability to effectively manage the electoral processes adjudication. Among there many achievements; Is the timely review/signing of Election Judicial Proceedings Practice Directions, 2022, which will serve as a guide to all stakeholders in providing an improved and efficient electoral adjudicatory process in order to be in tune with the new Electoral Act, 2022 – this has again strengthened citizens’ confidence in the judiciary. As human, we are quick to point at challenges forgetting often the success but our work is to give a balance view. For example, our judiciary had given landmark judgement in time past and recent,he added.
Eze further commended the judiciary for its previous speedy dispensation of justice in electoral cases such as those of Douye Diri in February 2020, Matawalle, May 2019 and Oshiomhole 2008.
He therefore cautioned politicians to desist from makings utterances that are inimical to the image of the judiciary and the justice system.
The programme Manager of the organization Oluchi Alphonsus on her part added that the app would help in strengthening the judiciary and encouraging them to do them.
She said ‘We came up with this project to strengthen the judiciary considering the numerous tasks ahead of them. And we are looking forward for a time where our elections will end at the polling units instead of the court where a lot of that we don’t even have are spent seeking for justice.”
