Lagos Judiciary Embarks On Court Decongestion Project

In a bid to aid the speedy dispensation of justice, the
Lagos State Judiciary will be embarking on a court decongestion
process which will rid the High Courts of old cases, some of which
date back 20 years.

The Justice Opeyemi Oke, the Chief Judge of Lagos State made
this known at a news briefing held at the Ikeja High Court,
Lagos.

Justice Oke, in her speech, said it was not heartwarming that
Lagos had the highest number of cases that were pending to be heard
in the country.

The Chief Judge said that President Muhammadu Buhari in a 2017
speech, had pointed out the high back log of old cases in Lagos
courts.

She noted that about 376 of such cases, most of which dated back
over 20 years, have been identified for review in the State High
Courts and may be referred to Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)
for adjudication.

“It is on record that the Lagos State Judiciary has cases that
date back to 20 years and beyond.

“This image, if it persists, is hazardous to the economic
wellbeing of the State and Nigeria ultimately.

“In fact, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, while
declaring open the Bi-Annual Conference of All Nigeria Judges of
the Superior Courts held between Nov. 20 and Nov. 24, 2017 and
organised by the National Judicial Institute, Abuja noted the fact
that the Lagos State Judiciary had the highest number of pending
old cases.

“This situation apparently damages the brand of a “Global
Lagos’’ and one which I do not intend to see continue.

“Global Lagos requires and truly deserves a world class judicial
system,’’ she said.

Justice Oke said that in a bid to proffer a solution to the
backlog, the state judiciary will undertake a review of all pending
matters on a case-by-case basis.

“This will determine the suitability of each case for
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR),’’ she said.

Justice Oke said that a review of the 376 old cases which
commenced on Jan. 22 had revealed the probable causes of delay, and
the delays were classed into three categories.

The Chief Judge said: “Inefficient case management by counsel
accounts for 45per cent; Court indisposition and interlocutory
appeals account for 20 per cent.

“The cause of delay of the outstanding 35 per cent has been
ascribed to other factors which include numerous indulgent
interlocutory applications.

“Others are: courts going on national assignments in Election
Tribunals and official assignments for conferences and trainings
for months, protracted Case Management Conference, Multiplicity of
interlocutory applications, Long adjournments, Trial having to
commence de novo when a Judge is elevated or retires, amongst
others’’.

The Chief Judge said measures have been put in place to
eradicate the delays impeding the progress of the cases.

Justice Oke said Justice S.B.A Candide-Johnson will chair an
ad-hoc committee which will focus on discarding old cases in
furtherance of the Backlog Elimination Programme (BEP) of the Lagos
State Judiciary.

The Chief Judge, in her speech, said a lot of law firms have
volunteered their services for forensic screening of old cases and
that efforts are being made to clear the backlog of old cases in
the Magistrates’ Courts.

“The Magistrates’ Courts are not left in the bandwagon in this
Backlog Elimination Programme.

“Efforts are currently being made to set up fast track and small
claims units at the Magisterial level,’’ she said.

Justice Oke solicited the cooperation of members of the public
and lawyers to make the BEP work.

“Let us come together to confront the monster of backlog and set
the pace in judicial service excellence in Lagos State.

“This will aid to achieve a sufficient level of access to
justice for the purpose of maintaining or improving the quality of
the judicial system as a whole and the restoration of public trust
in the judiciary,’’ she added.

In a bid to aid the speedy dispensation of justice, the
Lagos State Judiciary will be embarking on a court decongestion
process which will rid the High Courts of old cases, some of which
date back 20 years.

The Justice Opeyemi Oke, the Chief Judge of Lagos State made
this known at a news briefing held at the Ikeja High Court,
Lagos.

Justice Oke, in her speech, said it was not heartwarming that
Lagos had the highest number of cases that were pending to be heard
in the country.

The Chief Judge said that President Muhammadu Buhari in a 2017
speech, had pointed out the high back log of old cases in Lagos
courts.

She noted that about 376 of such cases, most of which dated back
over 20 years, have been identified for review in the State High
Courts and may be referred to Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR)
for adjudication.

“It is on record that the Lagos State Judiciary has cases that
date back to 20 years and beyond.

“This image, if it persists, is hazardous to the economic
wellbeing of the State and Nigeria ultimately.

“In fact, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, while
declaring open the Bi-Annual Conference of All Nigeria Judges of
the Superior Courts held between Nov. 20 and Nov. 24, 2017 and
organised by the National Judicial Institute, Abuja noted the fact
that the Lagos State Judiciary had the highest number of pending
old cases.

“This situation apparently damages the brand of a “Global
Lagos’’ and one which I do not intend to see continue.

“Global Lagos requires and truly deserves a world class judicial
system,’’ she said.

Justice Oke said that in a bid to proffer a solution to the
backlog, the state judiciary will undertake a review of all pending
matters on a case-by-case basis.

“This will determine the suitability of each case for
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR),’’ she said.

Justice Oke said that a review of the 376 old cases which
commenced on Jan. 22 had revealed the probable causes of delay, and
the delays were classed into three categories.

The Chief Judge said: “Inefficient case management by counsel
accounts for 45per cent; Court indisposition and interlocutory
appeals account for 20 per cent.

“The cause of delay of the outstanding 35 per cent has been
ascribed to other factors which include numerous indulgent
interlocutory applications.

“Others are: courts going on national assignments in Election
Tribunals and official assignments for conferences and trainings
for months, protracted Case Management Conference, Multiplicity of
interlocutory applications, Long adjournments, Trial having to
commence de novo when a Judge is elevated or retires, amongst
others’’.

The Chief Judge said measures have been put in place to
eradicate the delays impeding the progress of the cases.

Justice Oke said Justice S.B.A Candide-Johnson will chair an
ad-hoc committee which will focus on discarding old cases in
furtherance of the Backlog Elimination Programme (BEP) of the Lagos
State Judiciary.

The Chief Judge, in her speech, said a lot of law firms have
volunteered their services for forensic screening of old cases and
that efforts are being made to clear the backlog of old cases in
the Magistrates’ Courts.

“The Magistrates’ Courts are not left in the bandwagon in this
Backlog Elimination Programme.

“Efforts are currently being made to set up fast track and small
claims units at the Magisterial level,’’ she said.

Justice Oke solicited the cooperation of members of the public
and lawyers to make the BEP work.

“Let us come together to confront the monster of backlog and set
the pace in judicial service excellence in Lagos State.

“This will aid to achieve a sufficient level of access to
justice for the purpose of maintaining or improving the quality of
the judicial system as a whole and the restoration of public trust
in the judiciary,’’ she added.