Published Article

ABSTRACT

This study examined the legal system of Nigeria, investigating strategic ways of mitigating delay in judgment. The legal system of any nation serves as the backbone of justice, order, and societal progress. In Nigeria, a country with a vibrant and diverse population, the judiciary holds the crucial mandate of safeguarding the rule of law and ensuring that justice prevails. To carry out this research, numerous subheads were taken into consideration, some of which included the concept of legal system and the concept of delay in judgment. Some of the noted cases of delay in judgment as mentioned in the study included cases of Ekiri v. Kemiside & Ors, NWLR145 (1976), Joseph Ozoma & Ors v. M. Osanwuta UHC/30/679 (1969), and Atejioye v. Ayeni. The study mentioned the causes of delay in judgment to include overloaded judicial systems, procedural complexities, inadequate infrastructure/resources, and tactical delays by parties. The study mentioned the ways to mitigate delay in judgment to include judicial system reformation, enhancing judicial infrastructure/capacity, leveraging technology, and addressing corruption/bureaucratic bottlenecks. The study concluded that the legal system is the backbone of justice and societal progress, ensuring order and fairness. One of the recommendations made was that the Nigerian judiciary should embrace technology to enhance efficiency. Digitising court records, implementing e-filing systems, and introducing virtual court hearings can reduce delays associated with manual processes.