Tension As Lagos Chief Judge  Pays Surprise Visit To Courts

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

It was a tensed atmosphere at the various courts in Lagos following the unannounced visits to ascertain the condition of the courts on Wednesday by the new Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Chief Judge in company of some staff of the Lagos State judiciary and the executive members of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA went on inspection tour to some courts on fact finding mission.

Some of the courts the team visited were within Ejigbo, Isolo and some other areas. The team reportedly met empty courts in most places because of the transfer of some magistrates.

The visit took court officials by surprise as it was gathered that the Chief Judge had said that she will visit the courts but did not give any definite date for her visit.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that she made the moves in order to get on the spot assessment of the situation of things after she had received complaints and then to know how to move for the effective judicial system.

During her visit, some courts were already sitting while some others were yet to sit and even the registrars were absent before she stormed some places. Some  who later got information that she was going to various courts in the state had to contact their colleagues and they hurriedly put things in proper shape to receive her on arrival.

It was not certain if she and the team were able to visit the whole courts in the state because of the huge number of courts in the state.

However, the visit gave strong signals to the judicial staff, and some lawyers used the opportunity to chip in what was needed to improve the situation at the various courts.

It was gathered that the number of judicial staff at the courts comprising the magistrates, registrars and others were far lesser when compared with the number of cases in those courts. This, some lawyers observed was affecting the justice delivery in the state.

Some of the lawyers who spoke to P.M.EXPRESS commended the Chief Judge for taking such practical step towards improving the justice system in the state.
Some who did not want their names published said that the step will put the judiciary staff on check to improve more and take their work seriously.

It was not certain what might come out of the visit, but judicial sources said that the Chief Judge and her team met both the good and the ugly side of the judicial system during the visit.