Eliminate AGF's Involvement In Enforcing Financial Judgments Against FG — Akpabio

 Senate President Godswill Akpabio

THE attorney general of the federation (AGF) must provide his or her approval before a decision against the federal government can be carried out, according to a provision that Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged for to be changed.

At the national conference on justice on Wednesday, Akpabio gave a speech in Abuja.

The president of the senate stated that the requirement for a judgment creditor to have the approval of the AGF before a monetary judgment may be executed against the federal government frequently functions as a bottleneck, impeding justice and jeopardizing the independence of the legal system.

“In our view, to enhance efficiency while maintaining necessary checks, we propose replacing the requirement for the attorney general's consent with a mandatory notification system," he said.

“Upon receiving a judgment against the government, the relevant authorities will notify the attorney- general immediately in writing.

“Following the notification, the attorney-general will have a specified period, say 30 days, to respond. The response could involve initiating an appeal or settling the matter directly. This timeline ensures prompt action and prevents undue delays in justice delivery.

“If there is no response from the attorney general within this period, the judgment will be executed automatically.

“This measure is crucial to prevent stalling and ensure that judgments are respected and enforced promptly. In cases where the decision comes from a final court, the option to appeal is not available.

“Therefore, the attorney-general's response would be primarily directed towards settlement. This approach ensures that the government acts responsibly as a litigant and respects the decisions of our highest court in the land.”

The president of the Senate also demanded immediate changes to the way interlocutory appeals in civil cases are handled.

He said: “Currently, these appeals often cause unnecessary delays, prolonging litigation and burdening our courts.

“As was done in the criminal jurisprudence during the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, we propose that all appeals in civil cases should be taken only after the conclusion of the substantive case.

“This change will accelerate judicial processes, reduce backlog, and ensure that litigations are not unduly prolonged by intermediate appeals.”

The abuse of ex parte orders by judges in political situations is another area in which Akpabio has called for reform.

He stated that the National Judicial Council (NJC) needed to take strict control of the situation and punish judges who are discovered to have misused their power in the course of their work with decisive action.

The judiciary was urged to coordinate its operations with the principles of President Bola Tinubu's administration's renewed hope agenda, especially with regard to “the priorities on inclusivity, fairness, rule of law, and anti-corruption stance, among other things," by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who represented the president at the event.