Prof. Yemi Akinseye-George (SAN), an Abuja-based lawyer, has advocated strict adherence to administration of the criminal justice act in adjourning matters in courts.
Akinseye-George made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
“ If we were to follow the administration of Criminal Justice Act strictly, the prosecutor is entitled to five adjournments while the
defence is also entitled to five adjournments.
“ But even after those five adjournments there is nothing stopping the court from granting more adjournments.
“ These frequent adjournments are happening because parties are not prepared for their cases, may be the witnesses are not there or the court is congested, so at the earliest opportunity they adjourn cases.
“ I have been in court before and observed that the court had about 50 cases for a single day and they do not have electronic recording
system such that they don’t have to take everything in long hand.
According to Akinseye-George, judges still write court proceedings in long hand like undergraduates to whom lecturers dictate notes.
He said the pursuit of justice was centered on the pursuit of technical justice noting that technical justice could not resolve the
problems of injustice in the society.
He urged lawyers to advance substantial justice to the benefit of the common man.