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Tag: Lagos State Chief Judge

  • 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.

    Read also: Inspector to Lagos CP: save me

    “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 grants freedom to 80 juveniles in Badagry Prison

    Lagos CJ grants freedom to 80 juveniles in Badagry Prison

    Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, Tuesday, granted freedom to 80 juveniles in Badagry Prisons.

    The under aged whose ages range between 12 to 17 were said to have been arrested and charged with offences of breach of public peace, for hawking and having no means of livelihood.

    Only 28 inmates of the prison were initially scheduled for release by the Prisons Decongestion Committee headed by Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, which reviewed their cases.

    The Chief Judge had to  reviewed more cases together with her team when confronted by a large number of the under aged children languishing in the prison
    The prison premises smell like rat holes while most of the inmates were emaciated and malnourished.

    Justice Atilade said the freedom granted the under aged inmates of the prison was in conformity with the resolution of the judiciary to protect the Child Rights and also decongest prisons nationwide.

    Justice Atilade who was surprised at the high number of minors in the Badagry prison condemned the act of imprisoning underage irrespective of their offences.

    While setting the inmates free, the Chief Judge admonished them to be of good behaviour henceforth and to “go and sin no more.”

    “I pronounce, 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 all hereby released from custody”, Atilade said.

    The Chief Judge commended the various stakeholders including Office Public Defendant (OPD), Prisons Decongestion Committee and numerous non-governmental organisations that worked tirelessly to ensure the freedom of the inmates.

    Justice Atilade specially thanked, Mrs. Dupe Olubanwo, a social worker, who she said initiated the emergency prison visit due to her outcry of the overwhelming underage inmates languishing in Badagry Prison.

    Justice Yetunde idowu, who is the head of Family Court Division of the Lagos State Judiciary also condemned the imprisonment of the under aged inmates.

    According to her, the Lagos State and the Judiciary have zero tolerance for child abuse.

    “Keeping a child in prison for more than 24 hours traumatises such child and such should not be condoned at all in the state. We don’t want to encourage delinquency and we are starting today.

    “The aim of the Criminal Justice System in respect of child offender is rehabilitatory and reformatory.  We are urging everyone to quickly bring these kind of cases to our attention

    Solicitor-General, Mrs. Funlola Odunlami also said that the state especially Governor Akinwumi Ambode frowned at child abuse and will not condone child imprisonment.

    Odunlami also promised the prison authority that the state would look into all of their demands notwithstanding that it is a federal institution.

    Earlier in his welcome address, the Deputy Controller of Badagry Prison, Mr. Oyeniran Famuwagun decried the decongestion of the prison

    He said the prison built to accommodate 320 presently accommodated 584 inmates.

    He explained that 195 of the inmates are on the awaiting trial list. 389 others are convicts with a working staff population of about 70 staff.

    Famuwagun also complained of inadequate funding, lack of portable water and overstretched infrastructure at the prison particularly vehicles for conveying the inmates to courts.

  • Lagos CJ charges customary court presidents, judges to be fair to all

    Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade Wednesday charged judges of the customary courts to be fair and sincere to parties in the dispensation of justice.

    Justice Atilade gave the charge at the opening of a retreat/workshop organized for customary court presidents and judges by the Lagos State Judiciary Service Commission (JSS) and held at the Public Service Staff Development Centre ( PSSDC) , Magodo, Lagos, with the theme “Attaining excellence in the dispensation of justice”.

    Justice Atilade said: “judges must display utmost fairness and candor in the discharge of your duties.

    “Part of the purpose for setting up the customary courts is to do substantial justice to contending parties without recourse to the rigours , harshness and technicalities of the common law,” she stressed.

    She also admonished them to dispense justice with utmost sincerity and equity and not to assume jurisdiction over matters in which they have been precluded by the law and powers and functions of their courts.

    Rather, she advised them to be mindful of the fact that their role, as judicial officers, is to ensure justice within the sphere of their jurisdiction.

    ” You need to conduct yourself always in a manner befitting of your status and in accordance with the ethics and standard required of you,” she said.

    The Chief Judge remarked that the two day retreat was to enhance the human capacity and equip the requisite skills of the judges, and make customary courts vibrant and more responsive at the grassroots.

    She reminded the judges that the “people are watching and will not fail to keep watch over every step you take, your actions and inactions”.

    The Executive Secretary of Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Mrs Ayodele Odugbesan, in her address after the retreat, expressed confidence that the judges would have been well trained and equipped to carry out their duties as required by the law.