In order to stem the tide of fraudulent practices in the real estate sector and also ensure speedy trials of erring real estate agents, the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority, LASRERA, has called for the collaboration of the Judiciary in providing designated judges solely responsible for the handling of real estate related cases.
The Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Housing, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, made the call on Tuesday, when she led some Principal Officers of the Agency on a courtesy visit to the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Honourable Justice Kazeem Alogba.
Benson-Awoyinka said that for Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) to effectively enforce the law guiding activities such as misconducts, complaints or petitions from the public against persons or organisations within the sector, there is a need for special courts and designated judges to attend to all Real Estate Matters in order to fast-track hearing on such cases.
She appealed to the Honourable Judge to consider the Agency’s request due to the high level of fraud and quackery of some Real Estate practitioners and the need to expedite hearings on matters that affect real estate businesses in the State.
In her words, “The Courts need to accelerate the dispensation of all matters/issues in relation to real estate and ensure that victims get justice within a reasonable time and are refunded accordingly if the perpetrators are culpable. The property of the culprits might be confiscated and sold to offset the payment already made by the affected victims”.
In his response, Justice Kazeem Alogba pledged the readiness of the State Judiciary to support the fight against fraudulent dealings in the Real Estate practice in the State, describing the request of the Agency for Special Courts as a welcome development and promising to soon assign judges to handle such cases within some jurisdictions in the State.
While thanking the Special Adviser for seeking such collaboration between the two arms of Government in order to achieve the set objectives of the Agency, Justice Alogba reiterated the commitment of the judiciary to supporting the Agency in its efforts to sanitise the industry and its pursuit of quick dispensation of justice to the people.
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Do we really need a Special Court for Real Estate Infractions/Offences ?
If you ask me, I will categorically state that they are unnecessary and misleading.
The Government should do the needful. That's the adequate funding of the Judiciary. More Court Rooms, employment of Judges and Magistrates and Judicial Officials. With provision of relevant equipments that Will assist and ease the administration of justice
Or the Judiciary should be truly be independent and autonomous arm of Government.
More importantly, the provisions of basic needs of the People like housing, education, health care etc as primary objective of Government must be adhered and implemented
Whenever Governments massively invested in provision of houses for the Mass of the People, the issue of malpractices and criminality in the Real Estate will be things of the past or at negligible level
It is the gross inadequacies /shortages of Homes, shelters,offices and workplaces that breed sharp practices prevalent in the Real Estate sector in Lagos State.