Lagos chief judge inaugurates judicial reform committee

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Opeyemi Oke, on Wednesday
inaugurated a criminal justice sector committee to promote greater
cooperation among major stakeholders towards a speedy delivery of
Criminal Justice in the state.

The committee comprising stakeholders in the judiciary, Nigerian
Police Force, Ministry of Justice, law enforcement agencies, and
the Nigerian prison authorities would meet quarterly to review
findings and recommendations from several smaller sub committees
that are expected to meet monthly to deliberate on their various
agendas.

“I understand the committee has finalised the sentencing
guidelines which will be signed today as practice directions for
use by all courts in the state,” Mrs. Oke said.

“The guidelines will facilitate uniformity, equity and
objectivity in sentencing in Lagos State.”

The move came two days after the Corruption and Financial Crimes
Cases Trial Monitoring Committee, set up by the National Judicial
Council, met with 11 judges handling corruption cases at the
Federal High Court in Lagos.

According to Mrs. Oke, the administration of criminal justice
system cannot be achieved without the collaboration and cooperation
of all stakeholders, particularly members of the committee.

“Let me also inform you that a committee has been set up to
proffer practice directions for the use of the Administration of
Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State for the purpose of making the
law more explicit for judges, magistrates, and the prosecutors,”
she continued.

“The committee is enjoined to, in addition to interventions
already in the pipeline, to evaluate initiatives such as adopting
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism in criminal trials,
increased use of plea bargaining to drastically reduce the number
of inmates awaiting trial, front loading of evidence and
restorative justice.

“Each and every stakeholder here represented is critical to the
achievement of a robust, efficient, and responsive criminal justice
sector founded on integrity and upholding the rule of law.”

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Opeyemi Oke, on Wednesday
inaugurated a criminal justice sector committee to promote greater
cooperation among major stakeholders towards a speedy delivery of
Criminal Justice in the state.

The committee comprising stakeholders in the judiciary, Nigerian
Police Force, Ministry of Justice, law enforcement agencies, and
the Nigerian prison authorities would meet quarterly to review
findings and recommendations from several smaller sub committees
that are expected to meet monthly to deliberate on their various
agendas.

“I understand the committee has finalised the sentencing
guidelines which will be signed today as practice directions for
use by all courts in the state,” Mrs. Oke said.

“The guidelines will facilitate uniformity, equity and
objectivity in sentencing in Lagos State.”

The move came two days after the Corruption and Financial Crimes
Cases Trial Monitoring Committee, set up by the National Judicial
Council, met with 11 judges handling corruption cases at the
Federal High Court in Lagos.

According to Mrs. Oke, the administration of criminal justice
system cannot be achieved without the collaboration and cooperation
of all stakeholders, particularly members of the committee.

“Let me also inform you that a committee has been set up to
proffer practice directions for the use of the Administration of
Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State for the purpose of making the
law more explicit for judges, magistrates, and the prosecutors,”
she continued.

“The committee is enjoined to, in addition to interventions
already in the pipeline, to evaluate initiatives such as adopting
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism in criminal trials,
increased use of plea bargaining to drastically reduce the number
of inmates awaiting trial, front loading of evidence and
restorative justice.

“Each and every stakeholder here represented is critical to the
achievement of a robust, efficient, and responsive criminal justice
sector founded on integrity and upholding the rule of law.”