Lagos Judiciary Set To Go Digital By October 2021

— Lagos Govt Includes Renovation of Courts In Budget,
Promises To Learn From EndSARS Attacks.

In its bid to ensure speedy dispensation of Justice in Lagos,
the Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu led administration is set to
welcome the digitization of Courts in the State.

Speaking at the first virtual Bar-Bench Forum 2021 on Tuesday,
Lagos State Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr.
Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN noted that the coronavirus pandemic affected
the digitalization of the courts as proposed in 2020 but would be
achieved in October 2021.

He said, the government has put plans in place to digitize 10
selected Court rooms at the first stage in the year.

The Attorney-General added that the courtrooms will be equipped
with the latest technology to assist the judges and counsel during
court proceedings.

“The digitalization will ensure speedy dispensation of Justice
to the citizens of the State. The interest of Lagos State Citizens
is paramount,” Onigbanjo said.

He said the digital reform would eradicate all forms of
paperwork and also make the Lagos courtrooms first-class in
Africa.

While speaking on the theme; The aftermath of Endsars protest
and Effects of COVID-19 pandemic in the Justice system: Update on
effort made so far, Onigbanjo urged participants that Virtual
sitting should be embraced by all, noting that it has been ruled by
the Federal High Court to be Constitutional.

“The rest of the world is moving on through the use of virtual
sitting, there is a need for us all to embrace digitalization in
the Justice sector,” Onigbanjo said.

He added that a Lagos Court had the first virtual sitting during
the coronavirus pandemic lockdown which was labeled
unconstitutional but was later ruled constitutional by the Supreme
Court of Nigeria.

Speaking on the destruction of Court buildings in the State
during the Endsars protest, Onigbanjo informed the gathering that
the State Government had made budget provisions to renovate the
destroyed High Courts and Magistrate Courts buildings in the next
quarter of the year.

Onigbanjo noted that the state government will be providing 8
Court rooms at Osborne Foreshore Estate, Ikoyi by the end of April
to ease the effect of destroyed Court buildings in the State.

Also, during the forum, the Chief Judge of Lagos State Hon.
Justice Kazeem Alogba said the Judiciary will be investing more in
the digitalization and ICT based initiatives in all its Legal
engagements.

He added that the Judiciary sector will take advantage of the
aftermath of the Endsars incident to pursue more Information
Communication Technology ICT programmes aimed at the digitalization
of Court proceedings.

“To restore speedy Justice delivery in the Justice sector, we
have identified problems faced by the Judiciary as we are working
tirelessly to resolve all of them”

Alogba said the backlog of pending cases at both the State
Magistrate and High Courts have been identified and will be looked
into accordingly.

The Chief Judge, however, appreciated the efforts of the State
Government in identifying the effect of the Endsars incident on the
Judiciary sector and ensuring that they function well in the midst
of the COVID-19 pandemic.

— Lagos Govt Includes Renovation of Courts In Budget,
Promises To Learn From EndSARS Attacks.

In its bid to ensure speedy dispensation of Justice in Lagos,
the Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu led administration is set to
welcome the digitization of Courts in the State.

Speaking at the first virtual Bar-Bench Forum 2021 on Tuesday,
Lagos State Attorney- General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr.
Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN noted that the coronavirus pandemic affected
the digitalization of the courts as proposed in 2020 but would be
achieved in October 2021.

He said, the government has put plans in place to digitize 10
selected Court rooms at the first stage in the year.

The Attorney-General added that the courtrooms will be equipped
with the latest technology to assist the judges and counsel during
court proceedings.

“The digitalization will ensure speedy dispensation of Justice
to the citizens of the State. The interest of Lagos State Citizens
is paramount,” Onigbanjo said.

He said the digital reform would eradicate all forms of
paperwork and also make the Lagos courtrooms first-class in
Africa.

While speaking on the theme; The aftermath of Endsars protest
and Effects of COVID-19 pandemic in the Justice system: Update on
effort made so far, Onigbanjo urged participants that Virtual
sitting should be embraced by all, noting that it has been ruled by
the Federal High Court to be Constitutional.

“The rest of the world is moving on through the use of virtual
sitting, there is a need for us all to embrace digitalization in
the Justice sector,” Onigbanjo said.

He added that a Lagos Court had the first virtual sitting during
the coronavirus pandemic lockdown which was labeled
unconstitutional but was later ruled constitutional by the Supreme
Court of Nigeria.

Speaking on the destruction of Court buildings in the State
during the Endsars protest, Onigbanjo informed the gathering that
the State Government had made budget provisions to renovate the
destroyed High Courts and Magistrate Courts buildings in the next
quarter of the year.

Onigbanjo noted that the state government will be providing 8
Court rooms at Osborne Foreshore Estate, Ikoyi by the end of April
to ease the effect of destroyed Court buildings in the State.

Also, during the forum, the Chief Judge of Lagos State Hon.
Justice Kazeem Alogba said the Judiciary will be investing more in
the digitalization and ICT based initiatives in all its Legal
engagements.

He added that the Judiciary sector will take advantage of the
aftermath of the Endsars incident to pursue more Information
Communication Technology ICT programmes aimed at the digitalization
of Court proceedings.

“To restore speedy Justice delivery in the Justice sector, we
have identified problems faced by the Judiciary as we are working
tirelessly to resolve all of them”

Alogba said the backlog of pending cases at both the State
Magistrate and High Courts have been identified and will be looked
into accordingly.

The Chief Judge, however, appreciated the efforts of the State
Government in identifying the effect of the Endsars incident on the
Judiciary sector and ensuring that they function well in the midst
of the COVID-19 pandemic.