Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips has sworn in 12. She advised them to respect their new office and mind their conducts. ADEBISI ONANUGA reports.
At this point, you must realise that you have moved to the Bench. You have left the Bar. Those lawyers you used to gossip with, about the magistrates and about the judges, are now going to gossip about you. So, remember all you said about us when you were on that side. Now they would say those things about you. You just have to pray that they have good things to say about you and not bad things.
“From this moment on, the clock starts to tick for you and your reputation is beginning to get formed and if you start off either as lazy or indolent or on a good note , that exactly is going to be your stigma until you retire. So you have been warned. So, you are expected to be mindful of your conduct and utterances henceforth and be dedicated to their new job.
“I implore you, therefore, to ensure prompt and regular sittings at 9am, comport your self in a dignifying manner suited to your job template and ensure that your social activities are regulated and suited to your new role. “
With these words , the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, swore into office 12 new magistrates in the state judicial system.
Justice Phillips further said: “The standard expected of a judicial officer as espoused by the Code of Conduct for judicial officers would therefore, be embraced and observed by your honours. You must therefore familiarise yourselves with the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers as this would serve as your steering wheel as you navigate the often turbulent judicial terrain.
“The Code of Conduct specifically applies to all categories of judicial officers in the federation, including magistrates and provides standards for judicial activities, social relationship, administrative duties, occasional activities etc. The knowledge of the rules of this law book would prove invaluable in the years to come. You would also soon come to realise that your reputation would precede you as court users easily tagged law officers as knowledgeable, incorruptible, trustworthy, efficient, rude, indolent or corrupt,” the Chief Judge stressed.
The new magistrates comprise 10 women and two men. Their addition has increased the number of magistrates in the state to 119.
They are: Feyikemi George; Abimbola Davies; Adenike Onilogbo; Funmilayo Dalley; Oluwatosin Ojuromi; Adenike Adepoju; Olanike Olagbende; Oluwabunmi Osibajo; Kofoworola Ariyo; Adeola Erinle; Mr. Owolabi Lateef and Mr. Atanda Layeni.
The swearing-in, which held penultimate week at the court room of the Chief Judge in Ikeja, had in attendance the Head Judge, Justice Funmilayo Atilade; the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission, Mrs. Ayo Odugbesan; former Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yemi Osibajo and his brother who once served in Ogun State, Mr. Akin Osibajo; Lagos State Commissioner for Youth Hon. Waheed Oshodi; the State High Court Chief Registrar, Mrs. Olamide Akinkugbe and her deputy in-charge of Administration in Ikeja, Mrs. Abisola Soladoye, among others.
Justice Phillips told the new magistrates that they were being sworn-in at a time when the work-load of magistrates have increased tremendously. “I dare say you would have a lot of work to do because there has been an increase in your jurisdiction to try tenants and landlord cases and criminal matters up to N10million,” she said.
According to her, Section 28(1)(b) of the Magistrate Court Law 2009 particularly support the expansion of their jurisdiction adding, “this section provides that magistrates shall exercise jurisdiction in landlord/tenant matters where the annual rent overload does exceed N10million, but the claimants may in addition claim arrears of rent in respect of the fact that the total claim does not exceed N10million.”
She said their appointments would help to decongest the courts and ensure speedy and prompt dispensation of justice especially as it relates to pre-trial and awaiting trial syndrome in the prisons. “This is one area where I hope your honours would pay particular attention as quite a lot of work is in progress in ensuring a minimum number of awaiting trial inmates in our courts,” she said.
Justice Phillips told the new magistrates that Section 3 of the Magistrate Court Law 2009, provides a long list of offences triable under 17 various legislations in the state.
She said: “These cases in addition to your regular jurisdiction would keep you extremely busy to justify your appointment at this time.”
The new magistrates, she said, were selected from the best crop of the learned minds who applied for the position. She expressed confidence that they would excel as magistrates in the state because they were picked from the best of the crops.
To build their confidence in themselves about their new assignments, Justice Phillips recalled some of the best jurists who were also magistrates at some point in their career and rose to the exalted offices of the Chief Justice of the Federation. She listed them to include Justice (Sir) Darnley Arthur Alexander, retired state Chief Judges such as Justice Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin, Justice Olusola Thomas and Justice Adesegun, who were magistrates before they were elevated to become Chief Judges.
“So, you see, the sky is the limit for you if you apply yourself to your job. I urge you therefore, to be above board. Section 2(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), provides that judicial powers shall be vested in the courts,” she said.
She said the section which relates to Section 6(c) of the Constitution provides that the House of Assembly shall make laws. The combined effect of these two sections, according to her, is that magistrate courts being one of such courts, where House of Assembly makes laws, fall within the purview of this Section 6 of the 1999 Constitution.
According to her, this fact is further reinforced by the Lagos State Magistrate Court laws, Section 4(2) thereof, which provides that all magistrates in Lagos State shall serve as judicial officer to the exclusion of other functions except as may be provided by law.
The Chief Judge said the state judicial service commission has developed a training curriculum for the new magistrates to afford them the opportunity of learning skills required for their new office. She also enjoined them to empower themselves with the requisite skills for the job including, but not limited to the Lagos State Magistrate Courts Law 2009, the Administration of 2011, the Tenancy law as well as the Evidence Act and the Constitution, stressing that a mastery of them would ensure a hitch-free and smooth transmission from the bar to the bench.
Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Mr. Lateef thanked the Chief Judge for finding them worthy of the appointment. He assured that they would do their utmost best to ensure fair and speedy dispensation of justice in the state and would not erode the confidence reposed in them. He said they would be worthy examples of the magistrates in the state.
