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Nigerian Judges Gain Insight at NJC Course

By Heather Singer, NJC Communications Specialist

7/3/2008

Forty-one judges from Nigeria visited The National Judicial College recently to gain key insight into new judicial trends springing up in their home state of Lagos, one of Nigeria’s most progressive and trendsetting states, said district judge, Hon. M.B. Folami. Plea bargains, community service and other judicial tools are gaining momentum in Lagos.

“It has been helpful to learn from American judges who are already in the field using techniques that have been recently implemented in Lagos,” Judge Folami said.

“Lagos serves as the pacesetter for Nigeria, and we have found the NJC’s program to be encouraging in that it has given us new ideas and aspects on different ways of handling different judicial issues.”

The NJC’s judicial program is aimed at improving the efficiency and productivity of the Nigerian justice system. The Handling the Criminal Case course for Nigerian judges was piloted successfully in December of 2006. The 37 judges who attended that program said they learned much new information to take back to Nigeria and would encourage their peers to attend the course.

“We have learned new ways to conduct speedy trials by using methods such as pretrial conferences,” explained district judge, Hon. Mobolaji Olajuwon, who attended the recent program.

Because Lagos uses a mix of British and American law, it was easy for the judges to relate to what they were being taught which will enable them to use these new skills back home.

“The portion we learned on pretrial procedure will enable us to recommend new procedures at district court levels back home,” expressed Lagos district judge, Hon. F.O. Aigbokhaevbo. District judge, Hon. Lynda Yeside added, “The course served as an eye-opener on new laws and issues. It gave us a chance to examine problems that can arise.”

Lagos State, formerly the capital of Nigeria, is the most populous state in the Federation of Nigeria. It boasts the highest number of judicial officers in Nigeria with more than 50 high court judges and more than 115 magistrates, who all speak fluent English. All Lagos State court proceedings are conducted in English.

The five judges interviewed agreed that they enjoyed every aspect of the course, but most of all the NJC’s staff and faculty, whom they rated as top notch. Each faculty member – Hon. John P. Smith, district court judge, Walker, Minn.; Hon. Robert E. McBeth, retired judge, Auburn, Wash.; and
Hon. Efrain Alvarado, supreme court, Bronx, N.Y. – had a unique quality he brought to the course.

Humor, wisdom, a passion for justice, insight, and enthusiasm were abundant among staff and faculty, said the Lagos judges. District judge, Hon. Jumoke Olagbegi-Adelabu said the faculty members received a standing ovation near the end of the program. “It was just spontaneous because they were so wonderful,” she said.