The Nation Newspaper

Tag: CJ

  • ‘No more imprisonment for petty offender, says CJ

    Petty offenders will no longer be sentenced to prison terms, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, has said.

    She spoke yesterday at the official presentation of the two practice directions, the ACJL Practice Direction and Restorative Justice Practice Direction, held as part of efforts to ensure effective justice system.

    The event took place at the Lagos Judiciary Conference Room, Ikeja.

    Justice Oke said once the Practice Directions “comes into operation on June 3, minor offences will be diverted to these centres and restorative justice outcomes applied to ensure that persons who commit minor offences will no longer end up in jail.

    Read also: Lagos CJ laments absence of licensed bondsmen to bail defendants

    “So long as they are prepared to take responsibility for their actions and the harm they have caused system,” she said.

    Justice Oke said the magistrates’ courts, which would use the practice directions, would focus on reconciliation with the victim and community at large, rehabilitation, restitution and repair of the harm done and would as much as possible, under the law, impose non-custodial sentences, including fines, restitution orders, community service orders and so on.

    The chief judge said the documents marked a history era in the criminal justice administration in the state.

    She listed some of the highlights of the ACJL Practice Direction to include tightening the pre-trial remand procedure to address the challenge of awaiting trial inmates, introduction of the plea bargain protocol to encourage plea deals and decongest the criminal division docket and introduction of case management protocol to ensure that the prosecution and defence are properly  prepared before trial opens.

    “Criminal justice administration in the country has been beset by a myriad of challenges ranging from ineffective or incomplete investigations to delays in criminal trials, congested court dockets, the awaiting trial syndrome and the attendant congestion of our prisons, to name a few.

    “Today in Nigeria, we have seen countless cases where defendants are arrested for minor

    offences of burglary, wandering, two fighting and so on; they are locked up in our

    prisons for the flimsiest reasons and join the teeming population awaiting trial. In fact, the awaiting trial inmates account for more than 75 per cent of the inmates in our prisons today.

    “They are in our prisons with hardened criminals and by the time they come out, they have been initiated into a life of crime and are ready to spread terror, death and destruction in their post-prison escapades,” she said.

    Justice Oke said Lagos State has been at the vanguard in terms of criminal justice reform when it passed the ACJL in 2007, amended it in 2011, adding that other states have always followed suit, adopted and improved upon it.

    “Now Lagos State is going further with these new practice directions to realise the goal of expedited trials, improvement in the case disposal rates and hopefully this will culminate in the decongestion of our prisons.

    “These practice directions are being launched today in keeping with my vision to ensure speedy resolution of our criminal cases and the entrenchment of restorative justice in the administration of justice in Lagos State, to create more avenues for access to justice and a holistic approach to criminal justice administration,” she said.

  • CJ frees 14 inmates

    The Chief Judge of Nasarawa State, Justice Suleiman Dikko, has freed 14 inmates at Lafia Prisons during his quarterly visit to prison formations to decongest prisons.

    He said the inmates freed were those awaiting trial in mostly civil cases and cautioned prosecutors to be careful not to convert civil cases to criminal cases.

    The Comptroller of Prisons, Nasarawa State Command, Mr. Patrick Dalyop, had expressed delight with the CJ’s commitment in visiting prison formations and putting smiles on the faces of the inmates, thus relieving pressure on the facilities.

    Those freed are: Likita Emmanuel, Buba Doga, Ali Ibrahim, Henry, Abubarkar Ali Small, Musa Yahuza, Umar Ibrahim, Abubarkar Danjuma, Nasiru Usman, Danladi Shabu, Ali Jubrin, Muhammed Abdulahi and Ibrahim Polo. Peter John was granted bail on self-recognition.

     

  • Our Girls; CJ; Power plot; Ibadan Lagos gridlock 

    Our Chibok girls were kidnapped on April 15, 2014. Unfortunately our Dapchi girl, 15, Leah Sharibu is not released and still remains under the threat of death.

    Who is afraid of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN)J? The trial or non-trial of the CJN will create an unnecessary dust storm or is it s smoke screen?

    Power failure is not our lot. It is the result of a plot to keep Nigerians busy existing so we cannot interrogate the huge failure of our government to provide more power to meet the needs of the nation without resort to hyper-expensive and debilitating generator power.

    I had the privilege of visiting Nike Art Gallery in Lekki, Lagos, during the last week. The layout is amazing, rising four floors to a peak, each floor packed, and I mean packed, with a treasure trove of artworks covering all known genres. From the courtyard and its array of peculiar iron welded seats, human and animal shapes to the backyard. From the front doors to the ceiling, the space exudes some of the finest pieces created by our artists of all ages. The colours are an eye-full everywhere you look and the sizes vary from tiny recycled key rings which could easily have become earrings made out of recycled and processed plastic to giant beaded works depicting the Chibok girls looking despondent and abandoned in all their forlorn suffering. Lagos traffic is well represented. The naughtily immortal Fela has a huge multidimensional foot print, face print and quotes from his songs print and the classic depiction of the beauty of the female form is most strikingly exemplified by the ten or so large brightly painted depictions of an ode to the large size in range of female form at the very top of the pyramid of artistic wonders. I have known the one and only Nike – Chief Dr Mrs Nike Okundaye for more than 30 years. She has always been, maximally energetic and you should see her dancing with her team. I have yearned all this while to visit the museum which I found a delight of indescribable joy. It is a carefully tended oasis of dense knowledge and beauty in the midst of our very rough sea of those unable by self-imposed restrictions and work schedules or just plain unappreciative of the arts. All who enter the portals will come away enriched, enlightened and desirous of picking something up. Unfortunately I could only afford two different catalogues which I purchased for my NGO, Educare Trust, for the youth to understand the value and quality of artistic expression and end-products possible from recycling paper, bottle tops, bottles, metal objects et cetera. This Nike Art Gallery should be on the ‘TTD’ Things To Do list of everyone in and out of Lagos to get a synopsis of the Nigerian Art world under one roof and at one sitting. There is a legion of lizards somewhere in the gallery, I will not tell you where. Please go and visit and discover where the lizards are.

    What you see displayed is less than 10 percent of the actual quantity of artwork in the gallery. All around you see paintings stored against walls and squeezed between other exhibits each piece begging for a space on a wall. We must do what is done in other countries and develop our private and public Arts and Science Museum and Exhibition footprint.  Corporate Nigeria would do well to get behind efforts like that described above of Nike Arts Gallery to help fund the expansion and accommodation of all the accumulated artworks in one or several galleries for the enlightenment of the youth nationwide. This must be coupled to increased student traffic from schools and universities while encouraging more tourist visitors.

    The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway still under construction has after a two-week respite to allow free movement has reverted to its former depressing narrowing of the lanes to two with disastrous consequences on the travelling public. There is no effort by contractor or supervising government to ease the suffering of the citizens in the massive volume of traffic in those areas, with 5-6 lanes trying to shrink to two lanes. Nigerians did not cause the delay in the construction but it seems that the contractors do not care what happens to the citizens. This type of action must be challenged.

    Hurray as a result of the wonderful work of exposing N7 billion fraud annually at JAMB by Professor Oloyede, there has been a fall in the cost of JAMB forms.

    What politicians in positions they themselves identified during pre-election campaigns as ‘Opportunities to Serve’ in National Assembly (NASS) and government have failed to learn from history is that as often ‘fraudulently elected’ members of the board of ‘The Business called Nigeria’, their preoccupation with selfish status quo and greed-driven Parasitic Profit-taking from ‘The Business called Nigeria’ has prevented progress of ‘The Business called Nigeria’. Also they place too much faith in ‘Unitary’, a militaristic, autocratic, one-size-must-fit-all the 365 ethnic populations. The truth that ‘diversity and differential growth were much more federal even before federalism came to be bastardised and bring much faster development’ has been suppressed, opposed and vilified. Decentralization or deregulation will allow new businesses to spring up and new directions to be explored beyond the conservative elite’s narrow interpretation of the business of governance.

    Urgently Uncover ‘I LOVE NIGERIA’ KNOWLEDGEABLE CANDIDATES for 2019 elections -SDG 16.

  • Pressure on CJ to probe ‘corrupt’ governors

    The Chief Justice is being asked to activate his powers to probe governors.

    The CJN is empowered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) Act to raise an independent counsel to probe allegations against the President, Vice President, governors and deputy governors.

    Seven governors have been implicated in the alleged diversion of the London-Paris Club refund effected by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Also, Governor of Kano State Abdullahi Ganduje has been enmeshed in a controversy over alleged bribes from a contractor.

    In a report to mark the Anti-Corruption Day, the Human  Environmental Development Agenda(HEDA) spoke of corruption allegations against 47 former governors, 10 former ministers/ presidential advisers, three senators and two judges.

    HEDA said Nigeria has about N2 trillion cases of corruption, including the $2 billion arms procurement case involving a former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd).

    Despite the efforts of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC, there is a demand on the CJN to invoke his powers to hasten the investigation of governors with allegations of corruption.

    Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution confers immunity on governors. They can only be investigated and their prosecution deferred till after their tenure.

    HEDA which wrote to the CJN, requesting him to invoke his powers under Section 52 of the ICPC Act.

    Section 52 reads: “When an allegation of corruption or anything purporting to contravene any provision of this Act is made against the President or the Vice President of Nigeria or against any State Governor or Deputy Governor, the Chief Justice of the Federation shall, if satisfied that sufficient cause has been shown upon an application on notice supported by an affidavit setting out the facts on which the allegation is based, authorise an independent counsel (who shall be a legal practitioner of not less than 15 years standing) to investigate the allegation and make a report of his findings to the National Assembly in the case of the President or Vice President and to the relevant State House of Assembly in the case of the state governor or the deputy governor.

    “The  commission shall be enjoined to fully cooperate with such independent counsel and provide all facilities necessary for such independent counsel to carry out his functions.”

    The collaborating stakeholders, through HEDA wrote the CJN as follows:  “Disturbed by the increasing rate cum phenomenal cumulative implications of stolen capital flight from Nigeria in particular and developing countries in general, and the escalating rise in the laundering of resources and illicit trans-border assets acquisition, the HEDA Resource Centre in collaboration with other local and global stakeholders convened a one-day international conference on tracking and recovery of illicit transactions and proceeds thereof on 13th November, 2018.

    ”At the said world forum, it was unanimously resolved that a special letter should be written to the Chief justice of Nigeria with a view to drawing the attention of the Number One Judicial Officer of the country and indeed of the largest judiciary in Africa South of the Sahara and North of the River Limpopo to the provisions of Section 52 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.  We hereby do so.

    “Learned Law Lord, the foregoing provisions of the ICPC Act is clearly not in the public domain nor has it been ever utilized by any Nigerian, corporate or unincorporated, whatsoever and howsoever yet it remains a very potent instrumentality for curtailing, if not completely eradicating, theft, kleptocracy, misappropriation and all other forms of corrupt practices prohibited by the various national and international legal instruments against corruption and illicit assets.

    “Consequently, the HEDA Resource Centre in concert with other local and global stakeholders hereby beseech your Lordship to urgently and kindly use your good office to publicize and activate the provisions of the said Section 52 of the ICPC Act so as to ensure or facilitate a giant leap by the Nigerian Judiciary in the global assault on corruption and corrupt practices.”

    But the CJN through his  Senior Special Assistant to ( Legal/ Admin), Jane E. Edu, in a December 8 letter, said he would not usurp the roles of anti-graft agency.

    The CJN said: “The Honourable, the Chief Justice of Nigeria has directed that we respond to your letter with regret that he is unable to accede to your request to publicise and activate the provisions of the ICPC Act.

    “Your concern for lack of awareness of the said provision of the Act is legitimate but certainly not His Lordship’s responsibility to publicize the provision of an Act which has a commission set up by law to give teeth to the provisions of the Act.

    “The ICPC, EFCC, Ministry of Justice and all other agencies of government set up for this purpose, as well as other stakeholders like your good self have the responsibility to create awareness of the existence of such provisions of the Act.

    “The particular provision of the Act under reference is quite clear as to the role of the Chief Justice of Nigeria. Publicity is certainly not one of them.

    “The role of the Judiciary in the fight against corruption is not lost on His Lordship but he will not usurp the roles of other arms of government and their agencies.

    “Please be guided accordingly and accept the assurances of His Lordship.”

  • CJ inaugurates 47 sheriffs to quicken trials, justice

    The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, yesterday inaugurated 47 newly-recruited sheriffs to quicken trials and justice delivery.

    She urged them to shun corruption and be above board in the discharge of their duties.

    Justice Oke at the induction held at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja noted that the sheriffs were critical to the smooth running and efficiency of the justice system.

    She said the court could not assume jurisdiction without the proper service of the originating processes.

    The chief judge said the recruitment and training of the sheriffs were targeted at overhauling the old order characterised by “complaints of delays in service, failure to serve, falsification of affidavits of service, delays in reporting service, laziness, ineptitude, corruption, among others.”

    She said the recruitment was part of her administration’s “wide range of far-reaching innovations” to address some of the lapses in the justice system.

    “You are a new breed. You represent a new dispensation in the Sheriff Corps, and by the grace of the Almighty God, you have come in at this time to breathe new life and, by God’s grace, to change the old order.

    “You cannot afford to blend with the system. You are expected to stand out, you are expected to stand for what is right at all times.

    “Shun all forms of corruption and take your jobs seriously,” the CJ told the new recruits.

    She said a number of the old sheriffs had been dismissed for unethical conducts.

    At the ceremony, the sheriffs were presented with certificates, marking their completion of a three-week induction course at the Lagos State Judiciary Training School.

     

  • How to decongest prisons, by CJ

    •Nine released at Kirikiri

    Lagos State Chief Judge (CJ) Justice Opeyemi Oke, yesterday spoke on how to decongest prisons through non-custodial sentencing.

    She Implored magistrates to use such sentences to decongest prisons.

    Oke said she had directed  the chief registrar to issue a circular todayto that effect.

    The CJ was speaking while granting freedom to nine Kirikiri prison inmates.

    “Our magistrates will henceforth be monitored to ensure compliance with the directive,” she added.

    She unveiled plans to set up restorative justice centres, saying: “Simple cases need not go to the police. The restorative justice centre is a mediation centre. If there is an agreement and the guilty can pay for a missing tooth, why go to court? This is a way of decongesting prisons.”

    Five out of 25 shortlisted inmates were released from Medium Security Prisons. One of them, Saidi Raimi from Kwara State, was released to a mental home.

    Four out of 10 shortlisted inmates were released from the maximum been in custody for between eight and 11 years, which is longer than the number of years they will spend in jail if convicted.

    Although nine of the shortlisted women was released, the bail of one, Uche Emeasoba was slashed from N1million to N500,000.

    Lagos State Controller of Prisons Tunde Ladipo hailed the chief judge for bringing hope to the inmates and for decongesting the prisons.

    The Deputy Controller of Prisons, Medium Security Prisons, Kirikiri, Rev. Freedman Ben-Rabbi, asked that cells be provided at the Lagos High Court and Isolo and Ejigbo magistrates’ courts.

  • CJ investigates alleged N8m fraud in judiciary

    Lagos State Chief Judge Justice Opeyemi Oke is investigating about N8,411,500.00 alleged fraud discovered in the Fast Track Division, Igbosere High Court.

    The move, it was learnt, is part of her efforts to curb corruption in the judiciary.

    An official in the Fast Track Division of Igbosere High Court, who was alleged to be the mastermind of the fraud, is on the run.

    The suspect, it was alleged, carried out the fraud in connivance with the clerk of a chamber.

    The Nation gathered that when the police arrived at the Idi Araba, Lagos home of the suspect, it was discovered that he had packed out with his family.

    A source said the fraud was discovered by “a reputable law firm”, which presented the allegation to the office of the chief judge.

    The source said two Alpha Beta receipts to the tune of N8,411,500.00, presented to the Office of the Chief Judge, turned out to be fake.

    The clerk of the chamber and other workers of the division of the high court, suspected to be involved, are now being grilled by the police.

    The police, it was learnt, are carrying out further investigation to determine the culpability of all those involved in the fraud.

  • You’re agents of change, CJ tells judges, magistrates inducted as scouts

    Seventeen judges and nine magistrates of the Lagos State Judiciary were yesterday, inducted as members of the Lagos State Scout Council.

    The investiture ceremony was held at the High Court foyer, Igbosere, as part of activities marking the 2018/2019 new legal year.

    Speaking at the induction ceremony, Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke admonished the new scout members to see themselves as agents of positive change.

    Justice Oke told them, to in addition, see their membership of the scout council as service to humanity in another capacity.

    She said their induction is another way of helping to build the society, especially the young ones.

    She also promised to set up a committee, which will ensure that despite their busy schedule as judges and magistrates, they find time to contribute to the education of young people through a value system based on the Scouts laws.

    Lagos Scout Council Commissioner, Chief Jonathan Tawose in his short address described the investiture as epoch making one, adding that scout movement is a voluntary non-political educational movement for young people, which is also open to all without distinction of gender, origin, race or creed.

    “Scouting offers young people the opportunity to develop their full emotional, intellectual, physical, social and spiritual potentials as individuals, as responsible global citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities.

    “It is important to emphasize that the role adult leaders play consists of assisting young people in achieving the objectives of scouting. while the boy or girls is ‘learning to know’, ‘learning to be’ and ‘learning to do’, the adult leader should confine himself/herself to merely facilitating and educating as credited to the founder – Lord Robert Baden Powell who said: “here then lies the most important aim of scout training”, he stated.

    The judges and magistrates, who were inducted  include Justice Babajide Candide-Johnson, Justice Morenike Obadina, Justice Josephine Oyefeso, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, Justice Sybil Nwaka, Justice Ayisat Opesanwo, Justice Olaide Olayinka, Justice Abidemi Okikiolu-Ighile and Justice Olabisi  Akinlade.

    Others are Justice Ibironke Harrison, Justice Oyindamola Ogala, Justice Ganiyu Safari, Justice Olamide Akinkugbe, Justice Obafemi Adamson and Justice Abisola Soladoye.

  • CJ: Lagos courts to go paperless soon

    Paper and manual filing of court documents will soon end at the Lagos State High Court, the Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Opeyemi Oke, has said.

    She said the court would soon go digital with the deployment of an electronic platform.

    Also, Justice Commissioner Adeniji Kazeem said a technology-driven judiciary would enable the state to achieve better efficiency and quicker results.

    They spoke yesterday at the opening of the technical sessions at the Annual Law Week of the Lagos branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), with the theme: Human Capital and the Legal Profession in the 21st Century.

    The keynote speaker, who is also the Lagos Court of Arbitration (LCA) President, Mr Yemi Candide-Johnson (SAN) said lawyers must adopt global best practices as legal services consumers no longer accepted anything less.

    According to Justice Oke, who was represented by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, an information and communication technology (ICT) consultant was working on the digital platform.

    The chief judge expressed optimism that lawyers practising in Lagos would not find it difficult to migrate to the platform.

    She said: “It is clear that the Bar and Bench in Lagos are working in tandem towards bringing the practice of law and adjudication in the state in line with evolving trends and international best practices.

    “It has been a pleasure to observe that lawyers practising in Lagos State have already started moving in line with international best practices and have been most cooperative and understanding with the efforts of the Lagos State judiciary as we move along those lines.

    “We appreciate the fact that such changes may not be convenient, bearing in mind that most of us are used to the traditional modes of practising law. But as the theme of the law week conveys, the world is moving at a very fast pace and we cannot afford to be left behind.

    “So, it behoves on all of us – the Bar and the Bench – to move in line with contemporary trends. Within the Lagos State judiciary, we are initiating an ICT platform for the filing of processes at the High Court on an e-platform, in which case we’re trying to go paperless in the nearest future. But for now, we have started the process.

    “We have an IT consultant designing our IT platforms for the implementation. That is why it gladdens my heart that while we’re doing that from the judiciary end, the Bar is also moving in tandem with this and is initiating programmes and sensitising its members on the need for all of us to work together.”

    Kazeem said the event’s theme was apt in the face evolving trends of service delivery in all facets economic activity.

    He added: “I’m passionate about the technology-driven system. I’m of the belief that more efficiency and faster result will be obtained when we put technology to good use. You will agree that technology has made our lives easier from the way we live to the way we learn and work.

    “As a matter of fact, artificial intelligence is no longer a buzzword; it is coming more to life. It has been predicted that in less than a decade from now, most of the work done by humans will be taken over by robots and such other artificial creations of man.

    “This we’re seeing in many areas, such as robot-managed factories, driverless cars, electronic filing of documents and even electronic research assistance. You will agree with me that this is not fable and that even the legal profession is not exempted.”

    Candide-Johnson said 20th century ideas were no longer relevant in legal practice, adding that the 21st century lawyer must be globally-compliant.

    He said such lawyers must have collaboration skills and emotional intelligence, must be financially literate, be good in project management and have technological affinity.

    Lawyers, the LCA President said, must not only know how to run a business and interpret financial statements but must as well have sound knowledge of relevant technology to avoid missing opportunities.

  • CJ designates 15 courts for small claims

    The Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Opeyemi Oke, has designated 15 Magistrates’ Courts as Small Claims Courts as part of efforts to fast-track justice delivery in commercial disputes involving small claims.

    The courts’ inauguration , the first in the country, took place at JIC Taylor Court House, Igbosere, Lagos.

    Justice Oke said the courts would operate at the magistrates level and adjudicate on claims not exceeding N5 million.

    She recalled that the establishment of the courts was one of the reforms she promised to carry out to move the Lagos Judiciary forward in her inaugural address last year.

    Coincidentally, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), a World Bank initiative, under the office of the Vice President on the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria, also has as part of its reforms “Enforcement of Contracts” with the introduction of specialised small claims commercial courts at the centre of the reforms. For this purpose, two states (Lagos and Kano) were chosen as pilot states.

    Justice Oke noted that in January this year, she set up a five-member Small Claims Court Committee comprising Justice Yetunde Adesanya as chairman and four Magistrates, three of whom are Chief Magistrates with administrative portfolios in fulfilment of her commitment to the state Judiciary and the court’s role in the provision of Enabling Business Environment Initiative.

    According to her, the committee was required to draft a Small Claims Court procedures and guidelines, and make recommendations for matters incidental to the workings of the court within the magistrates system.

    She was elated that the state Judiciary now has the “Magistrates‘ Court Law (Practice Directions on  Small Claims)” to back its operations.

    “The objective of the Small Claims Court’s Procedure is to provide easy access to an informal, inexpensive and speedy resolution of simple debt recovery disputes in the Magistrates’ Courts, of ciaims, not exceeding N5million.

    “The Small Claims Court’s Procedure is simplified, in that every step has been reduced into standard forms, which the claimant or defendant/counter claimant, as the case may be, simply fills and files, i.e. Letter of demand, Complaint Form, Claim’s Form/Summons among others,”she said.

    She continued: “There is a handbook/guide, which explains each step of the process, guides through the filling of the forms and provide answers to almost every conceivable question that a party who is desirous of using the process may have.

    “There is a plan to have the Handbook printed in other languages, including Yoruba, Hausa, Ibo and Pidgin English, to encourage the use of the procedure and self representation by semi-illiterates and illiterates.

    “The procedure is inexpensive, in that it encourages self-representation by parties. It also encourages amicable settlement of the disputes. The procedure is fast and efficient, every step is time-bound with sanctions for default.

    “The entire hearing period from the first date of hearing, inclusive of the time allowed for exploring amicable, settlements must not exceed 30 days. The entire period of proceedings from filing till judgment is not to exceed 60 days.”

    Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem said the courts establishment will complement the efforts of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration geared towards enhancing justice delivery.

    According to him, Lagos State, through the various reforms being implemented in the judiciary by Justice Oke, has contributed immensely towards the rating of the country as the eighth among 10 most improved countries by the World Bank.

    He commended the Chief Judge for her foresight in establishing Small Claims Court, which he described as “a worthy legacy and succour to the legal and business community”.

    Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Industries and Investment, office of the Vice President, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, commended Justice Oke and the Lagos Judiciary for being the first judiciary to break the World Bank deadline of April 30.

    While expressing delight at the establishment of the courts, Oduwole stressed the need for training of magistrates that will adjudicate on matters involving small claims to ensure fast and efficient justice delivery.