ABUAD Provost Advocates Exclusion of Serving Judges from Election-Related Cases
During the 13th Aare Afe Babalola Public Lecture organized by the Nigerian Bar Association in Ado Ekiti, Prof. Tunde Yebisi, the Provost of ABUAD's College of Law, advocated for the exclusion of serving judges from election-related cases, suggesting the involvement of retired judges and respected senior lawyers instead.
Chris Oyeoku Okafor 
During the 13th Aare Afe Babalola Public Lecture organized by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Ado Ekiti, the Provost of the College of Law at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Prof. Tunde Yebisi, voiced concerns over the use of serving judges in election tribunals. Yebisi emphasized the need for true judicial independence and proposed the involvement of retired judges and respected senior lawyers, preferably Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), in electoral panels.
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Yebisi highlighted the importance of addressing the dearth of judicial officers to alleviate delays in the administration of justice. He called for improved remuneration for judges to safeguard against monetary temptations and enhance public trust in the judiciary. The ABUAD Provost stressed the negative impact of bribery, extortion, and political interference on Nigeria's judicial system, urging for measures to mitigate corruption.
To combat corruption and enhance accountability, Yebisi recommended disbursing judiciary funds directly from the Central Bank of Nigeria and regular budgetary reviews for the judiciary. Meanwhile, Aare Afe Babalola, the founder of ABUAD, expressed his desire for the annual lecture to continue beyond his lifetime. Babalola proposed setting aside funds to ensure the sustainability of the event and pledged a significant donation towards this initiative.
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Babalola lamented the economic challenges facing lawyers and the agricultural sector, underscoring the importance of supporting farmers and promoting investment. He emphasized the need for a shift towards giving and investment to stimulate economic growth and development.
The Aare Afe Babalola Public Lecture, established in 2011, serves as a tribute to Babalola's contributions to jurisprudence and legal education in Ekiti State and Nigeria. The event aims to foster dialogue and collaboration among legal professionals to address pressing issues in the country's judicial system and beyond.
