The Nigerian judiciary in the 21st century and the challenges of justice delivery

Abstract

The study examined the Nigerian judiciary by underscoring the challenges the judiciary faces in the 21st century. The Judiciary, as it is always said, is the last hope of the common man. This claim is predicated upon its role in protecting the rights of every person and institutions. The Nigerian Judiciary in the 21st century, has not gotten it right in the area of quick and timely dispensation of cases. Consequently, the resultant delay has in many cases, occasioned a miscarriage of justice. The methodology used in this work was doctrinal method. The work found among other things that the Nigerian judiciary is bedeviled with many challenges like its appointment processes, delay in dispensation of cases and justice, corruption and lack of implementation of judicial financial autonomy in some States in Nigeria. These challenges have rendered the judiciary a shadow of its true shelf and unable to fulfill its constitutional mandate. Accordingly, it was recommended among other things that the appointment processes be merit based without nepotism and cronyism. Also, the full implementation of judicial financial autonomy throughout the federation will lead to better justice delivery. In the same vein, judicial corruption should be tackled firmly and squarely to rid the profession of morally deficient judges and promote positive public perception.