To ensure speedy dispensation of Justice in Lagos, the Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu led administration is set to welcome the digitisation of Courts in the State.

Speaking at the first virtual Bar-Bench Forum, Attorney-General/Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo noted that the covid-19 pandemic affected the digitalisation of the courts as proposed.

He said government has put plans in place to digitise ten 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.

According to him, the digitalisation will ensure speedy dispensation of Justice to the citizens of the State.

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, Also, the Judiciary will be investing more in the digitalisation and Information Communication Technology, ICT based initiatives in all its Legal engagements.

According to Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, the Judiciary sector will take advantage

of the aftermath of the Endsars incident to pursue more ICT programmes aimed at the digitalisation of Court proceedings.

He believes that 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 government in identifying the effect of the Endsars incident on the Judiciary sector and ensuring they function well in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This is contained in a statement by Director of Public Affairs Ministry of Justice, Kayode Oyekanmi.
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