•Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu
As part of efforts to fast-track justice delivery in Lagos State, a bill to significantly reduce litigation time at the Magistrate and High Courts has been sent to the State House of Assembly for approval.
The Attorney General of Lagos & Commissioner For Justice, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Lawal Pedro said when passed, the bill will ensure that civil cases last not more than two years in courts and tenancy matters no more than 6 months, reports Channels TV.
Pedro disclosed this at a press conference held at the Ministry of Justice Conference Room, Alausa, Ikeja, today to commemorate his first year in office and to set the stage for the upcoming Strategic Stakeholders Meeting of his ministry scheduled for tomorrow and next.
Other innovations the Lagos State Ministry of Justice has introduced include the establishment of the State’s Criminal Information System, to capture photographs, and biometrics and identify the cases of all inmates in the Correctional Centres in Lagos State, as well as the establishment of the Lis Pendens Registry on land matters to serve as a repository of information of land disputes in the courts, reduce incidents of third-party interests as well as enhance confidence in real-estate investment within the State.”
The AG says all of the innovations will ultimately aid economic growth and protect investors.
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice held its Justice Reform Summit from May 27 to 28, 2024.
The Summit culminated in a series of impactful recommendations presented by the diverse speakers and discussants in attendance.
Following the reception of these recommendations and with the approval of Governor Sanwo-Olu, an implementation committee tasked with developing an action plan to operationalise these recommendations was soon constituted.
One of the foremost areas of focus for the committee was the Administration of Civil Justice for Economic Growth and Investment Protection.
Recognising that delays in justice delivery can significantly hinder economic progress, the committee emphasized the necessity of reducing the time of conclusion of cases in the Magistrate and High Courts.
To this end, a Bill for the enactment of the Administration of Civil Justice Law has been forwarded to the House of Assembly for the legislative process.
If the Bill is passed into Law, it is expected that litigation in trial courts should not last more than 18 to 24 months and tenancy matters between 3 to 6 months.
In the Criminal Justice System, delays in DPP legal advice and prosecution have been addressed.
In addition, the Lagos State Criminal Information System has been established to capture photographs, biometrics and identify the cases of all inmates in the Correctional Centres in Lagos State.
Another innovation introduced is the Bill for the establishment of the LIS Pendens Registry. The Registry aims to serve as a repository of information on land disputes in our courts to prevent instances of purchase of land subject to litigation by unsuspecting purchasers without notice. This initiative will not only reduce incidents of third-party interests arising from ongoing court cases but also enhance confidence in real-estate investment within the State.
Another Bill being proposed is the Customary Marriage and Dissolution Registry for the registration of customary marriages and dissolution of customary marriages. This will give the people of Lagos State opportunity to have customary marriage certificates and certificates of dissolution of customary marriages.
