By peterside Rejoice Eneky
The Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Professor Abubakar Sulaiman, has called for greater clarity and consistency in the interpretation of court judgments across Nigeria’s judicial system.
Sulaiman made the call on Tuesday during a one-day public dialogue on judicial reforms held in Abuja. The event, themed “One Judgment, Many Meanings: Navigating the Divergent Interpretation of Court Decisions in Nigeria”, drew participation from legal scholars, judges, lawmakers, and policy experts to address growing concerns over inconsistent judicial interpretations.
Describing the dialogue as timely and essential, the NILDS boss stressed that predictability and coherence in judicial decisions are foundational to the rule of law and vital to maintaining public confidence in the justice system. He expressed concern that conflicting interpretations of similar judgments even within various tiers of the judiciary could weaken the authority of the courts.
“The same judgment can yield multiple meanings not only among scholars but even within different tiers of the judiciary,” Sulaiman said. “This phenomenon is not merely academic; it strikes at the core of the rule of law and the authority of the courts.”
He questioned whether such divergences stem from judicial innovation or doctrinal confusion, urging stakeholders to determine whether these inconsistencies reflect healthy legal pluralism or pose a threat to the coherence of Nigeria’s legal system.
Sulaiman expressed optimism that the array of experts participating in the dialogue could help chart a clearer course forward. He pledged that any actionable recommendations requiring legislative input would be forwarded to the National Assembly for further consideration.
“As the law evolves through interpretation, we must ensure that such interpretations uphold justice, clarity, and trust,” he said, urging participants to approach the discourse with open minds and a collective commitment to reform.
The NILDS Director General concluded by reaffirming the institute’s dedication to supporting legislative development through research and policy engagement, and thanked all attendees for contributing to the national conversation on judicial reform.
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