National President, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Chief Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has called for the reduction of the powers and responsibility entrusted in the office of the President of the Court of Appeal in order to fast-track dispensation of justice at the appellate court.

Speaking to newsmen at the weekend over the continued delay in the hearing of pending election petitions at the Appeal Court, Akeredolu expressed worry over growing anxiety of Nigerians at the the pending cases, saying most Nigerian official did not realize the enormity of the responsibility bestowed on them and their offices.

“I believe that there is over concentration of power in the President of the Court of Appeal. He constitutes the members of the tribunal who hear at the lower court and decides who hear the appeal. I think that is over concentration of power. We should review the constitution of members of the panel to hear the appeal. We should look at it under the Constitution and the Electoral Act and look at it properly and see whether it could be vested in the Chief Justice of Nigeria rather than the President of the Court of Appeal.

“There is over concentration of power. He cannot be the one to determine who hears the matter at the lower court and determines when it is heard at the Court of Appeal. Everything now is with him. It is total over concentration of power and that has to be addressed,” Akeredolu stated.
While expressing the helplessness of the Bar in empanelling the appeal tribunals, the NBA boss dismissed suspicion that something untoward was happening that made the Appeal Court president to delay the constitution of the Appeal Tribunals especially in Oyo, Edo and Ondo states.

“The Bar does not believe that there is any underplay. The Bar does not believe that what is happening has some undercurrents. What the bar believes is that those who are supposed to take charge do not see the enormity of their responsibilities. They don’t just appreciate it. And the effect of not taking this matter on time will be on their integrity and the Court of Appeal and not on the judiciary as a body.The effect it has on the people outside, they do not appreciate it. But I believe that if people take up their responsibilities and look at this matter again,things would be better.

“We call on the President of the Court of Appeal to look on these matters again. We all know these matters are urgent matters and should be given the urgency they deserve, so that people would have absolute confidence in it. I don’t believe there is any underplay. What I believe is appreciation of our responsibilities and knowing that these cases are not just ordinary cases. They are matters that should be heard judiciously and we call on him to set up the tribunal as urgent as possible”, Akeredolu added.
The NBA boss, however appealed to Nigerians not to lose confidence in the judiciary, saying there are still men of proven integrity who would attend to their matters judiciously.