A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adeyinka Moyosore Kotoye has highlighted decentralisation of the judicial system, devolution of powers to state and local governments, and a comprehensive reformation of Nigeria’s electoral processes as the panaceas for the nation’s progress.
Kotoye said this on Thursday, July 4, while delivering the 2024 Law Week lecture of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ijebu Ode branch.
In the lecture titled: “The law, the bar, the society”, Adeyinka criticised the centralised control of judicial appointments by the National Judicial Council (NJC), saying it impacts negatively on state autonomy within Nigeria’s federal structure.
He condemned what he described as a drift towards quasi-unitary governance, and called for greater independence for states.
“I have tried in vain, to understand the reasons why matters like aviation, bankruptcy and insolvency, banks, borrowing within Nigeria, construction, copyright, designation of securities in which trust funds may be invested, election to the office of the governor and deputy governor, evidence, fingerprints, identification and criminal records, fishing and fisheries, incorporation, regulation and winding up among others are included in the exclusive list,” he said.
Kotoye also criticised the current ordering of election schedules in Nigeria and proposed a return to the electoral cycle of 1998, while also advocating for elections to commence from the grassroots level upwards.
He called for prioritisation of local government elections followed by gubernatorial and state assembly elections on the same day, then presidential and national assembly elections.
According to him, this would empower local governance structures and enhance democratic engagement.
The event was graced by many dignitaries such as Justice Onafowokan who represented the Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Arinola Dipeolu, a former deputy governor of the state, Sefiu Adegbenga Kaka, and other senior lawyers.
Nurudeen Akewushola is an investigative reporter and fact-checker with The ICIR. He believes courageous in-depth investigative reporting is the key to social justice, accountability and good governance in society. You can reach him via nyahaya@icirnigeria.org and @NurudeenAkewus1 on Twitter.