Mr Joseph Daudu, President, Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, yesterday in Lagos, said the freedom of Information (FOI) Act when fully operational, will strengthen enforcement of court orders and judgments in the country.

Daudu made this known at a one-day training workshop organised by a human rights group— Access to Justice(AJ)— in collaboration with the NBA.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the workshop had as theme : “Effective Enforcement of Court Orders and Judgments: Getting Around the Obstacles”.

Dauda noted that enforcement of court orders and judgments was an integral part of our adjudicatory system which must be complied with by parties to a dispute.

‘’I  am of the view that this flagrant disregard for the rule of law through the frustration of adjudicatory process by those who disobey court orders, poses a greater threat to the society in many ramifications,’’ he said.

He added that Nigeria would face a bleak future if its government and agencies continue to exhibit flagrant disregard for the rule of law.

Daudu said: ‘’ that is why there is a noticeable increase in investment by foreigners and Nigerians in countries such as South Africa and Ghana as an alternative to Nigeria where the perception is that hard as you try, you can never get any form of justice, be it criminal, punitive, reformative or compensatory justice’’.

The NBA President who spoke through Mr Kazeem Adebanjo, NBA Chairman, Ikorodu branch, noted that there was need to overhaul the existing legislations on the subject matter of the enforcement of judgments.

He also called for government and civil society groups such as the NBA and AJ to step up their enlightenment programmes on the issue.

Earlier in his address of welcome, the Executive Director of AJ, Mr Joseph Otteh said the rule of law would be completely meaningless if judgments or orders of court were not obeyed efficiently and effectively.

Otteh said the purpose of the workshop was to expand the capacity of legal practitioners and civil society organizations to enforce judgments and orders gotten against public and even private organizations.

He said this would ensure that the rights of citizens were adequately protected and help in reducing the culture of arbitrariness and impunity within public agencies such as the Police and the Nigerian Army.