NBA Benin Urges Judiciary to Adopt Faster Criminal Trials Without Sacrificing Due Process

The Nigerian Bar Association, Benin Branch, has urged the judiciary to replicate the speedy-trial approach adopted by the Edo State Special Criminal Court in other serious criminal cases, while insisting that speed must never come at the expense of due process or the rights of defendants.

Chairman of the Branch, Omorodion Omoigui, made the call while reacting to the recent judgment arising from the kidnapping of a woman at the Vegetable Market in Benin City on June 14, 2026.

The Edo State Government subsequently established a special criminal court to handle kidnapping and cult-related cases, with the court commencing operations on July 1.

Omoigui said the outcome demonstrated that a criminal case involving serious allegations could be prosecuted and determined within a reasonable period while the procedural and constitutional rights of all parties remained protected.

According to him, the lesson from the proceedings was not that criminal justice should be hurried, but that unnecessary delays could be reduced when investigators, prosecutors, defence counsel and the courts discharge their responsibilities efficiently.

He said the matter showed that speed and due process are not mutually exclusive, particularly where all institutions involved in the administration of criminal justice cooperate within the law.

NBA seeks wider criminal-justice reform

The Branch also commended the security agencies for their investigative efforts and the judiciary for bringing the proceedings to conclusion within a relatively short period.

For the NBA, the significance of the case goes beyond the individual conviction.

Nigeria’s criminal justice system has long faced criticism over prolonged trials, repeated adjournments, missing witnesses and delays that can leave defendants, victims and their families waiting for years for final resolution.

The constitutional requirement for fair hearing therefore operates alongside a broader expectation that justice should be administered within a reasonable time.

Omoigui said the Benin Branch remains committed to judicial independence, the rule of law and protection of fundamental rights, while encouraging institutions involved in criminal prosecutions to maintain the level of cooperation demonstrated in the recent case.

The Branch’s intervention also raises a broader policy question: whether specialised courts and more disciplined case management could help reduce the time spent prosecuting serious criminal offences without creating a parallel justice system that weakens procedural safeguards.

For LegalLinkz, the key principle remains clear: speedy justice is valuable only when it remains fair justice.