The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has directed judges across the country to adopt active case management strategies aimed at reducing prolonged litigation and restoring public confidence in the judiciary.
She made the call on Monday at the opening of the National Workshop on Case Management for Judges of Superior Courts of Record, organised by the National Judicial Institute (NJI) in Abuja.
Kekere-Ekun said the judiciary must be assessed not only by the quality of judgments delivered but also by how quickly cases are resolved.
She warned that delays in the justice system continue to undermine public trust, increase litigation costs, and discourage investment.
According to her, “justice delayed often translates into justice denied,” adding that prolonged adjournments and procedural abuse weaken confidence in the rule of law.
The CJN said the workshop was designed to strengthen judges’ capacity in areas such as docket management, electronic case filing, scheduling systems, and judgment timelines.
She urged judicial officers to take stronger control of proceedings, enforce timelines, and make better use of pre-trial procedures to reduce case backlogs.
Kekere-Ekun also called for the adoption of technology in the justice system, including virtual hearings, digital case tracking, electronic filing systems, and automated scheduling tools.
She cited judicial reforms in countries such as the United Kingdom, Singapore and South Africa, noting that structured case management and active judicial oversight have significantly improved efficiency in those jurisdictions.
The CJN said Nigeria must embrace continuous reform, especially as rising commercial disputes and constitutional cases place additional pressure on the courts.
In his remarks, the Administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Babatunde Adejumo, also called for proactive case management as a key solution to reducing delays in court processes.
He said effective management of cases from filing to judgment is essential to eliminating bottlenecks and improving access to justice.
Adejumo noted that modern judicial practice requires judges to move beyond passive adjudication and take active responsibility for monitoring case progression.
He emphasised the importance of continuous judicial training and leadership development to equip judges with modern case management skills.
According to him, stronger judicial education will improve efficiency, enhance fairness, and strengthen public trust in the justice system.
