…As Ministry of Justice begins implementation of recommendations from the 2024 Justice Summit,
The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has announced plans for a two-day Strategic Stakeholders Meeting, scheduled for October 23rd and 24th in Ikeja with the theme: “Enhancing Collaboration for Effective Justice Delivery”.
Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General for Lagos, Lawal Pedro who announced this at a press conference in Alausa, Ikeja said the meeting aims to strengthen cooperation among various agencies in a bid to improve law enforcement and justice administration across the state.
”Day One of the event will focus on ”Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Administration”, featuring retired Justice, Mojisola Olatoregun as the keynote speaker. High-profile participants such as the Director of Public Prosecutions, officials from the EFCC, ICPC, and the Nigerian Correctional Service will also attend.
”The session will address pressing challenges in law enforcement, explore best practices, and identify ways to improve cooperation among relevant agencies.
”On Day Two, discussions will centre on land administration, environmental management, and chieftaincy matters and feature the Lagos State Lands Bureau, the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
”The Oba of Lagos is expected to deliver the keynote address during a session dedicated to the future of local government administration.”
Pedro noted that the meeting follows recommendations from the Lagos Justice Summit held earlier this year, where key stakeholders emphasized the need for greater coordination within the justice system.
According to him, the summit underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration as a critical step towards ensuring that justice is both effective and accessible to all residents of Lagos State.
On the implementation recommendations from the Justice Summit, the Commissioner said an implementation committee has been working on an action plan to address delays in civil justice cases, which often slow economic growth and investment.
”One major development is a proposed Bill for the Administration of Civil Justice Law, aimed at ensuring that civil cases in Lagos courts are resolved within 18 to 24 months. The Bill, currently before the Lagos State House of Assembly, would also set a timeline for resolving tenancy matters in three to six months.
”In the area of criminal justice, the Ministry has tackled delays in issuing legal advice and prosecuting cases. An innovative Criminal Information System has also been established to collect biometric data and case information on inmates across Lagos correctional centres.
He noted that other legislative reforms in the works include a ”Lis Pendens Registry”, designed to track land disputes and prevent unsuspecting buyers from purchasing property that is subject to litigation, and a “‘Customary Marriage and Dissolution Registry”, which would allow Lagos residents to formally register and dissolve customary marriages.
The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General also emphasized the importance of continued dialogue and collaboration among all stakeholders to build a more efficient and equitable justice system. “The media, community leaders, and government agencies are critical to this process,” he noted, stressing that media coverage plays a vital role in promoting transparency and accountability.
