Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, has raised concerns about the dire financial state of some courts in Nigeria, indicating they are on the brink of closure due to insufficient resources.
Speaking during a public hearing on the ‘Bill for an Act to Prescribe Salaries, Allowances, and Fringe Benefits of Judicial Office Holders in Nigeria and Related Matters 2024 (SB.414)’ at the National Assembly in Abuja, Justice Dongban-Mensem highlighted the severe challenges facing the judiciary.
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“Nigeria is well-endowed with human and material resources and cannot be classified as a poor country.”
“However, the judiciary has faced significant hardships over the past 17 years, which are not easily remedied, but we remain hopeful for improvement.” she said.
Justice Dongban-Mensem expressed gratitude to the Senate Committee on Judiciary and President Bola Tinubu for initiating the bill, viewing it as a crucial step towards addressing the judiciary’s financial woes.
“We are on the verge of closing some of our courts due to lack of resources. Our staff are suffering. But we thank the Senate committee for their understanding and support. They recognize that justice delayed is justice denied,” she stated.
