To help the judiciary and legal profession achieve better public perception, especially in this digital era, the Anambra State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Sylvia Ifemeje, has, among other things, called for adherence to laid down procedures, norms and statutes; with less recourse to technicalities over substantial justice while resolving issues brought to the court.
a paper presented during the 2023/2024 Legal Year organised by the Anambra State Judiciary, Professor Ifemeje warned that if positive public perception of the Nigeria judiciary is totally eroded, the judiciary, and by extension; the legal profession stand to lose credibility and sustainability, and the masses will resort to self-help and other unconventional means of justice delivery in order to get justice.
She described the theme of the 2023/2024 Legal Year, “Delivery of justice: Public perception and reality”, as one that rings bell and awakens collective mindset to the introspection of the revered profession.
The Justice Commissioner however distinguished perception from legal reality; saying that while legal reality is predicated on a set of rules, principles, judicial authorities, laws and other factors that culminate in Nigeria justice delivery, public perception may be founded on a layman’s logic, misinformation, sentiments based on tribal, religious and political affiliation, and a host of other factors which influence the public perception of the legal reality.
She said all over the world, inclusive of Nigeria, the courts, especially the apex courts, have been courts of law and public policies because in interpreting laws and adjudicating issues, the judiciary equally formulates public policies in tandem with this function, adding that the manner in which these laws are interpreted and cases adjudicated are factors that determine the public perception.
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