The Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Sulyman Kawu has said that many adjournments requested by lawyers is an impediment to speedy dispensation of justice.

He also identified other limiting factors to include delay in rendering advice by the Ministry of Justice or in bringing such advice to the notice of the trial court and taking of notes in longhand by judges.

He therefore appealed to lawyers to limit their requests for adjournments to the barest minimum and for good cause bearing in mind that justice delayed is justice denied.

According to him, courts can only properly adjudicate over a matter when the parties and their counsels attend hearings promptly and consistently.

He spoke on Monday during a special session of the High Court to mark the beginning of 2015/2016 new legal year in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. Kawu said, "The present practice by the police of arresting suspects against whom complaints are lodged at the station and arraigning them in the court before investigation is completed, unnecessarily prolong the duration of court hearings.

"The better practice, which I recommend should be adopted by the Nigeria Police, is to first invite to the station a person against whom an allegation or report of commission of crime is made. He is interviewed and then released on bail by the police while investigation into the substance of the complaint and response of the suspect is carried out.

"During this period, the suspect goes about his normal daily activities and is invited to the police station only when there is the need to clarify some issues.

"On completion of investigation and receipt of Director of Public Prosecution's advice where needed, the suspect is taken into custody and arraigned before a competent court where hearing commences immediately.

"With this practice, the time an accused person spends in court from point of arrest and arraignment to completion of trial will be greatly reduced as applications usually made to enable the police complete their investigation will no longer be tenable," Kawu said. The Chairman, Care-Taker Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ilorin branch, Mr. Joseph Bamigboye (SAN) said the pillars of a civilized society are the Rule of Law and Separation of Power.

He stated that the can only be guaranteed and secured by a financially independent and self accounting judiciary. He said, "We lend out voice to the call by the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria that the judiciary be made truly financially independent in line with clear constitutional provisions for it is by so doing that they can effectively manage their affairs and properly perform their functions without fear, favour, malice or ill will.

"Recent events in this country have shown that the judiciary is not only the hope of the common man but moreso of the uncommon man. "The extent of the independence of our judiciary reflects our index as civilized people. The only instrument the judiciary requires for its expenditure is the appropriation law, and no more."