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| Adjournment of Court Cases in Nigeria: Determinants, Effects and the Way Forward |
Okafor, Cynthia Adaora & Anowia, Victoria Tochukwu
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Abstract:
The court is a key component of the criminal justice system besides the police and prisons, playing a central role in promoting social order. However, the rate at which cases are adjourned in courts is worrisome as victims and aggrieved persons do not get justice when they need it. Sequel to the above, this work therefore examines: Adjournment of Court Cases in Nigeria: Determinants, Effects and the Way Forward. Marxist theory was adopted as the most appropriate theoretical framework, documentary data were generated and analyzed using content analysis with the view of probing how this situation has constituted a failure of the criminal justice system. The study observed that poor funding/ infrastructural facilities, corruption, unpreparedness of lawyers, delayed tactics by litigants are some of the factors that influence cases adjournments. Consequently, it takes a toll on the prisons due to the geometric increase in the number of awaiting trial inmates and the speedy dispensation of justice. The study suggested that judges must learn to prioritize their adjudicative functions above every other activity they have as well as effective funding of judicial institutions.
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