| Nigerians not getting
deserved justice in High Court
By OLA AGBAJE
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
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• Shasore
(SAN)
Photo: SunNews Publishing
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In order to ensure an orderly society, where the rule of
law governs, the magistracy, as an integral part of the judiciary,
has a key role to play. This observation was made in Lagos
recently by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner
of Justice, Olasupo Shasore (SAN).
Shasore, who spoke to our correspondent at a justice reform
summit, explained that the vision and the mission of the present
administration in the state under Governor Babatunde Raji
Fashola, as regards the administration of justice was to address
all the myriads of problems that have been plaguing the lower
court over the years in order to make it meet the justice
needs of the vast majority of the people in the state.
“The magistracy is a core aspect of our justice delivery
system. That is where the majority of our people take their
dispute to.
“Before people think of high court, they first of all
ventilate their grievances at the lower court. For example,
the issue of landlord/tenant disagreement is a major issue
in the state and the magistrate’s court is often called
upon to adjudicate in most of such cases.
Also, cases bodering on dispute over minor debt; certain categories
of crime, such as theft, burglary, rape, dangerous driving,
assault, among others, fall within the scope of the magistracy
jurisdiction.
“Consequently, if we want to ensure that law and order
prevail, if we want to have responsible and responsive citizenry,
then there is a need for us to ensure that our magistrate’s
court is effective and efficient at all times,” he said.
According to Shasore, the reform of the lower court would
be launched on two fronts -– the institutional capacity
building and total infrastructural rebuilding.
Shasore noted that the present rules of the court have become
obsolete and incapable of meeting the need of the present
situation. “There is a need to reform the system by
reforming rules of the court. The people are not getting what
they deserve in terms of justice from the lower court and
that was due to the fault that the rules are no longer adequate
to meet their needs.
He said: “That is why this administration should put
a nine-man panel in place to take holistic look at the system,
especially, the rules of the court with a view to come up
with a total reform package.
“Today’s event is one of the exercises put together
by the committee towards total reformation of the lower court.”
Also, the Attorney General maintained that the judicial officers
and personnel at the lower court would receive a series of
training that would enhance their capacity to deliver.
On the infrastructural rebuilding, Shasore noted that the
immediate past administration in the state did a lot in terms
of creating a conducive atmosphere for high court judges to
deliver by way of building new courts while all the old ones
were renovated to taste.
“We intend to rebuild the entire infrastructure of the
magistrate court in the state in all the divisions.
“And as I am talking to you, work has already commenced
on them. There is need to make the atmosphere conducive for
effective and efficient performance. That is the only way
we can make the system meet the aspirations and needs of our
people in terms of quality justice delivery system,”
he said.
On the pervasive lawlessness of vehicular road users in the
state, Shasore said the state will not allow unlawful and
irresponsible conduct on our road to go unpunished.
He said: “As you are aware, we have started prosecuting
traffic offenders. I am personally involved. We are going
to continue to collaborate with the police who are our key
partner in the drive towards enthronement of law and order
in the state.
“We will soon make a critical appraisal of the activities
of commercial motorcycle operators popularly known as Okada
riders.
“Under our law, they are categorized as vehicles and
as such, they are governed by the same law. They have no reason
to be conducting themselves in disorderly mannerm such as
taking one way or driving against the traffic laws. We will
soon convey to them the government’s decision and we
want you the media to help create the necessary awareness
among them.”
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