The director of strategic communication, APC Presidential Campaign Council for the 2019 election, Mr. Festus Keyamo, on Friday promised to unbundle the Supreme Court if he was made the attorney general of the federation and minister of justice.
Keyamo who stated this in Abuja while undergoing screening as a ministerial nominee from Delta State said he would ensure the creation of a branch of the court in each of the six geo-political zones.
He said the regional supreme courts would handle criminal cases while the Supreme Court in Abuja would concentrate on political cases.
“If I am the attorney general of the federation, I have the idea I call the three Ds that will be at the heart of judicial reforms: decongestion of the Supreme Court, decongestion of prisons and decongestion of case lists in courts.
“The Nigerian Supreme Court is the busiest in the world. My first task will be to unbundle the Supreme Court. It is the busiest in the world and that is not acceptable.
“Some of the cases that go there are frivolous. This country is big enough to have six regional Supreme Courts.
“Every police station should open itself to the nearest magistrate courts for inspection. Same with the DPOs. They are not complying with those provisions of the administration of criminal justice Act.
“Magistrates should be given the powers to grant bail even in matters involving murder when there is no evidence at the early stage.
“We should amend the law to make the powers of the attorney general and DPP subject to judicial review. It is subject to abuse when people accused are abuse and freed,” he said.
On the number of the political parties in the country, Keyamo said: “We must keep opening up the political space to Nigerians.
“Besides registration of these political parties, they must be made to test their popularity and capacity at the lower elections.”
Senator James Manager (PDP Delta), who spoke on behalf of Delta caucus in the senate, urged his colleagues to support the nomination.
He said Keyamo had demonstrated competence and intelligence in handling all the questions by the senators.
