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Tag: Justice Opeyemi Oke

  • Chief Judge to old girls: give back to show gratitude

    Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, has said giving back to one’s high school is the right thing to do.

    The judge spoke at the National Convention of the Fiwasaye Old Girls’ Association (FOGA) fundraising dinner at the Ikeja Airport Hotel last Saturday.

    Oke, who attended Fiwasaye Anglican Girls’ Grammar School, Akure in the 70s, said giving back was a way of showing gratitude.

    “The awareness and commitment to give back to the alma mater among alumni should ideally exist from the culture of being grateful and showing gratitude. After receiving so much from our high school, giving back seems just like the right thing to do,” she said.

    The judge added that the number of alumni that gives back also matters.

    “For many, the percentage of alumni that donates to a school can inform them about the quality of the school. When someone enjoys and is grateful for the school that they attended, they want to give back.

    “As you look back on your days in school, you may remember the wonderful friends that you met, the memories that you made, the experiences that you had, and the lessons that you learnt. You think about the teachers who influenced you in your professional and personal life. When you think about everything that your school did for you, you want to give back as a gesture of gratitude. It doesn’t matter how much each alumnus gives, but the number of alumni donating will show you that they look back on their time at the school fondly and are grateful for the experiences they had within its walls,” she said.

    Speaking of ways to give back, Justice Oke said the old students could mentor current students, volunteer to speak at school events, join the alumni association and make financial donations.

    She concluded by urging members of the association to give generously to restore standards of the school.

    “Give with a large heart and let your impact be seen not only in Akure but across our nation Nigeria and beyond our shores. Let us join hands together to build a new Fiwasaye that will be the cynosure of all eyes with modern amenities in a conducive environment for learning,” she said.

    The FOGA President, Lagos branch, Mrs Jumoke Lambert-Aikhionbare said members should help uplift the school.

    “Education has suffered a lot in this country and it is my concern that each one of you this evening should help us to see what we can do to build up our school to attain its past glory”.

    Explaining the need to give back to the school, another old girl, Mrs Olabisi Banjo, said: “The school is far from what it used to be when we were there. It had boarding houses, it was a complete school. It was an Anglican school till the government took it over and like most government schools, it just kind of went down.

    “So, we are going to do a lot of rebuilding of the buildings; restore boarding houses. We would start with the drainage and road network of the school, re-fencing the school and upgrading old buildings. Making sure their water run, the toilet works.

    “When we do all these, the students and teachers’ spirits are lifted, hence improving the quality of education so when the students become old girls, they will willingly join the existing association and give back to the school.”

    Guests at the event included Justice Doris Okuwobi, Justice Aishat Opesanwo, Justice Seri Solebo and Justice Toyin Taiwo.

  • Garlands for Chief Judge

    The Lagos State Judiciary has held a valedictory court session for its former Chief Judge the late Justice Christopher Olatunde Segun, ADEBISI ONANUGA reports

    Justices of the Appellate Courts,  the Chief Judge and judges of the High Court of Lagos State,  members of the inner and outer Bar and the  Magistracy converged on Lagos to bid farewell to a respected and former Chief Judge, Justice Olatunde Segun.

    It was at a special Valedictory Court Session which held in his honour at the foyer of the High Court of Lagos State, Igbosere, Lagos.

    Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Opeyemi Oke, in her address, described the former Chief Judge as “a highly respected judicial officer, an outstanding jurist, a fair and fearless judge and an astute administrator of justice.

    “ Indeed, he was a rare gem and a beacon of light who contributed immensely to the advancement of the administration of justice in Lagos State Judiciary, even after retirement,” she said, stressing that the late chief judge had a reputation for hard work and discipline.

    According to Justice Oke, the late former Chief Judge was a man of peace who had a good work and harmonious relationship with other arms of government “without compromising the independence of the judiciary.”

    Justice Oke recalled that contrary to expectations that he would stay in retirement after he retired from the Lagos judiciary in 2001, the passion to serve the public was so compelling that the late Justice Segun continued to offer himself in public service.

    According to her, Justice Segun was appointed Chairman, Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) in 2002 and held the position till 2007.

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    She disclosed that in 2004, Justice Segun led a delegation of Commissioners of LASIEC to monitor the Unites States of America’s (USA) Presidential Election in Washington DC.

    After relinquishing his Chairmanship position at the commission, his intellect was such that the state government continued to seek his advise even as he served the state in other capacities.

    Oke said the late Chief Judge was a committed christian who reportedly “had over 3,000 Bibles all around his house, which he read anywhere he turned to.”

    She said his patriotism and penchant to serve the society endeared him to many people like the late Ogbeni Oja of Ijebu Ode, the late Chief Bayo Kuku, Prof. Adetola Adebonojo, Pro. Bolaji Akinsanya, Justice M. Kotun, Chief Bola Ige and Prince Adediji Adedoyin, all of blessed memory.

    She listed surviving friends to include The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiri Adetona, Otunba Subomi Balogun, Chief Oyekunle Alex-Duduyemi, Elder Simeon Olakunrin and Engr. Ayo Jagun.

    In his valedictory speech, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem described the late Justice Segun as an achiever and one of the finest jurist and judicial  administrator to be produced not just in Lagos State but also in the country.

    He noted that Justice Segun lived a commendable life worthy of emulation.

    Kazeem further said of him: “For someone who left for England to study Accountancy, but was influenced half way to switch to study Law, one can tell that he was an achiever and an astute decision maker because even today law remains the profession of choice.

    “From a mere glance at his profile, his was a stellar career spanning literally the whole judicial ladder which many in public service have only been able to aspire to”.

    He recalled: “sometime in 2015, when asked in an interview where he got the conviction he was going to succeed after he jettisoned Accountancy for law, he replied that the switch was not a problem. In his own words, “by the time I moved to law, everybody said I was in the right place”, and he had no regret having risen to the peak of his career before his retirement as Chief Judge of Lagos State.

    Kazeem also recalled that his last encounter with Justice Segun was in October 2016 when the former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Funmilayo Atilade informed him that he had been admitted in hospital for an ailment and that he should inform the Governor .

    He said immediately Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was informed,  he directed that him to visit and convey his good wishes for his speedy recovery.  “On my arrival I met him in company of Justice Atilade and Justice Bankole-Oki who were fussing over him like daughters. I later learnt that they were indeed like daughters to him as they regaled me with stories of how he had mentored them early in their careers.

    “Those moments of light banter I spent with him and his daughters were indeed memorable and I left thinking that these were the last of titans, tough as nails but yet possessing sufficient emotion, humour and empathy to serve humanity and the law”, he said with nostalgia.

    He noted that after retirement, Justice Segun dedicated his entire life to serving God adding “his philosophy of life became Love God and do his will, and if you adhere to this, other good things will follow”.

    Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Epe Branch Chairman, Sunday Abimbola who spoke on behalf of other NBA branches in the state, described him as astute and upright judge all through the time he became a judge of the High Court of Lagos State and tenure as the Chief Judge of the state’s judiciary.

    “ It is imperative to note that one of the major achievement of Hon. Justice C.O. Segun was the enforcement of quick assignment of cases.

    “When you file a case in court with an affidavit of urgency, you can be rest assured that the case would be assigned timeously. Hence, helping the plight of the helpless citizens.

    According to Abimbola, Justice Segun put in place mechanism in place to ensure that cases are promptly assigned to a judge despite it was not the age of internet and electronic technology at a time that.

    Abimbola said the late Justice Segun was “ dogged, fearless, innovative, wise and upright . He left landmark achievements for other judges to emulate “, he said.

    Others who also eulogised the former Chief Judge of Lagos state included Ayanlaja Afolarin(SAN) who spoke on behalf of Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (BOSAN).

    Also present at the event was Femi Falana (SAN), Norrison Quakers (SAN), NBA Ikorodu Branch, Bayo Akinlade among others.

  • ‘Minors in adult prisons are at great risk’

    Experts in the child criminal justice sector have condemned the incarceration of children at conflict with the law in adult prisons, saying this could have long term negative effects.

    They said the practice is not unusual in prisons across the country, and fingered poor law enforcement procedures, prison congestion, and youth unemployment, among others, as the basis for this trend.

    Speaking in Lagos at a one-day summit on ‘Reforming juvenile justice administration in Nigeria, ending the detention of juveniles with adults’, they urged greater action by stakeholders to stem the tide.

    The summit, hosted by the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), was organised by Citizens United for the Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE-Nigeria) in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), South-West Zone, and the OPD.

    Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, was represented at the event by Justice M.O. Obadina; CURE-Nigeria was represented by its Executive Director Mr. Sylvester Uhaa; NHRC Lagos Coordinator, Lucas Koyejo, represented the NHRC Executive Secretary, Anthony Ojukwu  while OPD Director, Olayinka Adeyemi attended on behalf of herself and the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Adeniji Kazeem (SAN).

    Koyejo noted that the practice violated both the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Child Rights Law, which excluded child offenders from imprisonment.

    He added: “Unquestionably, jailing children with adults needlessly puts them at greater risk. This is so because children at that age are still at the developmental stage and their malleability is higher, making them particularly vulnerable to criminal socialisation when incarcerated with adults.”

    “….The juvenile delinquents of today are our adults of tomorrow, hence the necessity to preserve and rehabilitate them today. A criminal justice system that refuses to reform the youth is a danger both itself and the unborn generations. The criminal justice system must be restructured and reformed to rehabilitated both the young and all and sundry”.

    Uhaa’s views were similar. He identified poverty, inadequate education and breakdown in family ties as some of the factors exposing young people to crimes.

    According to him, the juvenile criminal justice system should focus on rehabilitating young offenders so that they can become useful members of the society.

    Uhaa said: “What we need to do is to apply concerted efforts to find solutions to these problems, not harsh and overly punitive laws and policies.

    “The treatment of juveniles in conflict with the law as adults, such as trying them in adult courts, sending them to adult prisons, is not only illegal and violate international and domestic laws, but it is also counter-productive, inhumane, cruel and wicked and violate the principle of parenspatriae – state as parents – and does us no good,” Uhaa said.

    He called on the various agents of government, both state and federal, to respect all international and domestic laws governing the administration of juvenile justice in dealing with juveniles who come in conflict with the law.

    According to Adeyemi, the OPD had offered legal representation to 72 children in conflict with the law, 20 from the boy’s correctional centre, 22 from Ikoyi Prisons, 5 from Kirikiri Medium Prisons and 10 from the Federal Borstal Home, Adigbe.

    She worried that children were being found in adult in prisons, stressing that they should be kept in a correctional home where they can be reformed and rehabilitated.

    The director said studies had shown that incarcerated children have significant mental health needs and many face a life of inadequate care, poor health and education, among others.

    Adeyemi added: “We all agree that reform and rehabilitation, not punishment are the guiding principles of the Child’s Right Law and that a child in conflict with the law is a child in difficult circumstances who has fallen out of the protective net at some point and been robbed of an opportunity of a safe and secure childhood.

    “The approach of the child justice system and all stakeholders must aim at addressing the vulnerability of children and champion minimum intervention by law and minimum institutionalization”.

    Also in attendance at the summit, were the Controller of Prisons, Lagos State, Tunde Ladipo; the Head, Child and Adolescent Centre, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos, Dr Grace Ijarogbe; Damisa Barbara, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), who represented the Chairman, Lagos State Task Force on Environmental Offences, Yinka Egbeyemi; and the National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Malachy Uwgummadu.

  • Lagos scores ‘first’ with restorative justice system

    The Lagos State Judiciary has launched the Practice Direction on Restorative Justice to herald its adoption of the Restorative Justice System.

    The state’s Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, said the state had thus pioneered, “for the first time in Nigeria, a new regime and an institutional framework for Restorative Justice.”

    Justice Oke spoke at a training to equip magistrates with knowledge and skills on application of the system in their courts.

    Restorative Justice sometimes called ‘reparative Justice’ is a process whereby all parties at stake in a particular offence come together to resolve collectively how to deal with the aftermath of the offence and its implications for the future.

    Justice Oke noted that the adoption of restorative justice approach was based on the need to ensure that offenders are not just punished but also reintegrated and restored to society.

    According to her, the Nigerian judicial system is awash with “countless cases where defendants are arrested for minor offences – 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.”

    The introduction of Restorative Justice at the Magistrates Courts level system, the Chief Judge noted, has the potential to change “that narrative in Lagos State…

    “This will ensure that restorative justice outcomes are applied to many minor offences.”

    Justice Oke explained that the system would be officially launched soon along with the establishment of restorative justice centres in the seven magisterial districts in the state.

    She said: “Lagos State Judiciary, under this administration, has decided to take the bull by the horn and start this project and is set to roll out restorative justice centres in the seven magisterial districts of Lagos State.

    Meanwhile, Chief Judge has also unveiled the Project Plaque of the Lagos Commercial Court at Tapa, Lagos Island.

    Justice Oke said the objective of constructing the Commercial Court, which is expected to be completed in 24 months, is to fast-track decisions on commercial disputes.

    Speaking at the unveiling, she added: “Once it is ready, it will bring about speedy dispensation of Justice in Lagos State.

    “I am full of thanks for the commitment and dedication of the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the Honourable Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr. Adeniji Kareem SAN, the Administrative Staff of the Lagos State Judiciary and everyone who played a significant role in achieving this vision of the administration.”

  • ‘Lagos e-probate registry will reduce human error, corruption’

    The Lagos State Judiciary has automated its probate registry, and implemented a cashless transaction system.

    Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, who commissioned the project last Friday, said the technology would reduce human error and corruption within the department to the barest minimum and enhance service delivery.

    The e-Filing Probate and Archive Registry at the High Court, Igbosere, will promote “significant time reduction in issuance of grants in the Probate Registry and enhancing Revenue generation.”

    The CJ said: “On assumption of office as the Hon. Chief Judge of Lagos State, I received several petitions that the procedures for the procurement of Letters of Administration and Probate Grant were cumbersome, unfriendly and often delayed. Cases of fund spillage and shortage of revenue were also reported.

    “Being a critical and strategic service based Department, it was apparent the Probate Registry must be refocused, purged and divested of all encumbrances and corruption, using modern technology if we must achieve our desired goal.”

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    According to her, key features of the E-Probate platform include:

    “Probate applications can now be submitted through the online portal and progress monitored.

    “The process of payment has been made cashless with less difficulty for all stakeholders.

    “I am happy to inform you that payment can now be made through the use of POS, and Mobile Transfer to our designated accounts.

    “In view of this cash transactions will no longer be allowed at the Probate registry.

    “Also the storage and security of submitted wills are much more guaranteed with the introduction of fireproof safe and the digitalisation of the process of lodgement and retrieval of wills.”

    Also speaking on the automation process, the Chief Registrar, Mrs. Taiwo Olatokun said the innovation will hasten customer service delivery, noting that members of staff have been trained to give warm and friendly support to customers always.

  • Lagos judges for Easter break

    Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, has approved April 19 to 26 for Easter vacation.

    In statement by the Chief Registrar, Mrs Taiwo Olatokun, quoted the CJ that arrangements had been made for dealing with urgent cases during the Easter period.

    “Each judge will deal with all urgent applications related to any substantive cause already assigned to him or her.

    “Any urgent application, the substantive cause of which has not already been assigned will be dealt with by the judge to whom the application is specifically assigned.

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    “Notwithstanding the provisions of Order 49, Rule 4, any cause or matter may be heard by a judge during the period of the Easter Vacation where such a cause is urgent and provided that the condition prescribed by Order 49 Rule 5 shall be observed and be complied with,” the statement reads.

  • 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.

  • Lagos CJ frees Nine prisoners

    The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, freed nine prisoners on Thursday and directed magistrates in the state to deploy non-custodial sentencing for minor offenders  to decongest the prisons.
    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that five inmates out of 25 shortlisted were released from Medium Security Prisons.

    This included one Saidi Raimi from Kwara who was released to a mental home.
    Four  out of 10 others shortlisted, were released from the Maximum Security Prisons, Kirikiri, having been in custody between eight and  11 years.

    They were said to have stayed  longer in custody than the number of years they would have spent if sentenced by the court for offences charged.

    The Chief Judge told the released inmates to, henceforth, be of good behaviour and stay away from crime.

    She advised them  to  desist from any act that would bring them back to prison.

    “Pursuant to the provisions of Sections 1(1) of the Criminal Justice (Release from Custody) Act, 2007 as well as Section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, you are hereby released from custody today, Dec. 6, 2018.

    “I want you to ,henceforth,  be of good behaviour. Make sure you don’t breach any law again. Go out there and sin no more”, she  admonished them.

    Although,10 women were shortlisted from the female section  for release, she regretted that none qualified for release.

    She said that their  trials  had commenced and are at present on bail.

    One of them, Uche Emeasoba, however, had her bail conditions reduced from N1million to N500,000 and the sureties reduced to one.

    Justice Oke explained that those granted amnesty were qualified for release after a thorough review of their case files.

    She also said the Chief Registrar had been directed to issue a circular immediately on her instruction to the magistrate courts.

    “All magistrates would, henceforth, be monitored to ensure compliance with the directive,” she said.

    Oke also said that the state government was contemplating the establishment of restorative justice centres in the state.

    “All simple cases need not go to police. The restorative justice centre is a mediation centre.

    “If there is an agreement and the guilty one can pay for a missing tooth, why go to court? This is a way of decongesting the prisons,” she said.

    The Lagos State Controller of Prisons, Mr Tunde Ladipo, while responding to questions from journalists commended the Chief Judge for bringing hope to the inmates and her efforts to decongest the prisons.

    Ladipo notd the efforts of the Nigerian Prisons Service to decongest the prisons.

    He said  that  was why the Federal Government set up the Presidential Committee on Prerogative of Mercy for deserving inmates.

    Earlier,the  Deputy Controller of Prisons, Medium Security Prisons, Kirikiri, Rev. Freedman Ben-Rabbi,  had requested the Chief Judge to assist them with the provisions of court cells within the premises of Igbosere High Court, Isolo and Ejigbo Magistrates’ Courts.

    Ben-Rabbi and Assistant Controller of Prisons, (ACP) Christy Diala and Sp. Joda Olatunbosun of the Female Prisons and Maximum Security Prisons respectively, appealed to the Chief Judge for logistic support for easy movement and prosecution of the inmates.

  • Lagos courts to go paperless soon – CJ

    The Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Opeyemi Oke, said on Thursday that paper and manual filing of court documents would soon end at the Lagos State High Court.

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

    The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, said a technology driven judiciary would help achieve better efficiency and quicker results.

    They spoke at the opening of the technical sessions at the Annual Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Lagos Branch, with the theme: “Human capital and the legal profession in the 21st century.”

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

    Justice Oke, who was represented by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, said an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) consultant was working on the digital platform.

    She expressed optimism that lawyers practicing 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 practicing in Lagos State have already started moving in line with international best practices and have been most corporative 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 practicing law, but as the theme of the law week conveys, the world is moving at a very fact pace and we cannot afford to be left behind.

    “So, it behooves 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.”

     

  • Lagos courts get new sentencing guidelines to forestall prison congestion

    The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke, on Wednesday launched new sentencing guidelines for use by courts in the state.

    The guidelines were signed by the chief judge as practice direction for magistrates and high court judges as part of justice sector reform.

    They were intended to ensure uniformity in sentence and fines imposed for certain offences by magistrates in particular and forestall prison congestion.

    Addressing the inaugural meeting of Justice Sector Reform Committee on Wednesday, Justice Oke pointed out that the vision of the Lagos State Judiciary under the present administration is to make speedy dispensation of justice a hallmark of the judiciary and improve on its reputation as a pace setter.

    The chief judge noted that this can only be achieved through inter agency collaboration and cooperation of stakeholders.

    She disclosed that a committee has also been set up to proffer practice direction for the use of the Administration of Criminal Law of Lagos State for the purpose of making the law more explicit for judges, magistrates and prosecutors.