Imported User:
Senate President David Mark said in Abuja on Wednesday that the proposed amendment of the 1999 Constitution would address all grey areas to promote quick dispensation of justice.
Mark made the assertion while receiving the proposed judicial amendment to the Constitution from the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Dahiru Musdapher.
Mark said: "Anything we can do to deliver justice swiftly without delay is welcome because justice delayed is justice denied.
"The three arms of government are important, we must work together to promote democracy and deliver dividends to our people."
The Senate President gave the assurance that the constitutional amendment would be done with dispatch to correct all the grey areas in the 1999 Constitution, in an open, honest and transparent manner.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who is the Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee, also gave the assurance that the committee would do its best not to disappoint Nigerians.
``We will bring about changes that would reflects on the dynamics of the society, ’’he stressed.
Presenting the 47 amendments on judicial reforms, Musdapher said the proposed amendments were borne out of the reform process and were expected to address many serious issues currently affecting the judiciary.
According to Musdapher, the proposed amendment include that the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court has been altered.
This is by providing that appeals from the Court of Appeal on interlocutory decisions and other matters shall only be by leave of the Supreme Court.
Other proposals are; the composition of the National Judicial Council and the Federal Judicial Service Commission has also been altered to ensure greater balance.
The process of removal of judicial officers has been streamlined to ensure a greater degree of fairness.
The old section 295 regarding reference on questions of law has been deleted as it has been identified as a means to stall the swiftness of the trial process;
He said further that the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court has also been expanded.
Its include an advisory jurisdiction on application by the President or a Governor on questions of law or fact that are of such importance and expedient to obtain an opinion of the Supreme Court among others.
The Chief Justice added that for the common good of the nation.(NAN)
