Sanwo-Olu approves fund for completion of courtrooms
Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), has said that henceforth, no case would be allowed to last more than 24 months in court.
He also said that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had approved funds for the completion and furnishing of the JIC Taylor Magistrate Court House in Igbosere and payment for 34 flats as official quarters for the magistrates.
Pedro disclosed this, yesterday while speaking with newsmen on the upcoming strategic stakeholders’ meeting and commemoration of his first year in office held at the Ministry of Justice, Alausa, Ikeja.
Besides, he said that a bill for the enactment of Administration of Civil Justice Law (ACJL) had been forwarded to the House of Assembly for legislative process.
He said that when the bill is passed into law, litigation in trial courts should not last more than 18 to 24 months and tenancy matters between three to six months.
“The idea is to ensure that no tenant is owing his landlord or landlord ejecting his tenant when a matter is before the court.”
“Notice would be given but we would not allow it to be used as an instrument of oppression by either the tenant or the landlord,” he said.
The AG said that in the criminal justice system, delay in the DPP legal advice and prosecution had been addressed, adding that the Lagos State Criminal Information System (LSCIS) has been established to capture photographs, biometrics and identify the cases of all inmates in the Correctional Centres in the state.
Pedro listed other innovations introduced to include the bill for the establishment of Lis Pendens Registry on land matters, saying: “The Registry aims to serve as a repository of information of land disputes in our courts to prevent instances of purchase of land that is subject of 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.”
He said that another bill being proposed is the Customary Marriage and Dissolution Registry for the registration of customary marriages and dissolution of customary marriages.
This, according to him, would give residents of the state the opportunity to have customary marriage certificates and certificates of dissolution of customary marriages.(Guardian)
