To transform the justice sector and everything connected to it, the Lagos State Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, has urged stakeholders to safeguard the rule of law and promote access to justice going forward.
This is as the Head of the Ministry of Justice urged that the administration of justice should be used for enhancement of economic growth, investment protection and security in the State and Nigeria in general.
Pedro was speaking on Monday at the opening ceremony of the Justice Reform Summit, themed “Enhancing The Administration of Justice For Economic Growth, Investment Protection and Security in Lagos State.”
Expectations from the two-day engagement is for stakeholders to recommend lawful ways and means to address delayed justice.
According to him: “It is my desire that civil cases in our trial courts should not last more than 18 months from date of commencement of an action and six months in cases of simple recovery of debt and three months in cases of recovery of arrears of rents and possession of premises.”
Added to this, Mr. Pedro informed that the State Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment just revealed that in the last one year the State government successfully attracted investment in both foreign and local direct investment. Therefore, in case of any dispute the investment should not be unduly tied down by protracted litigation.”
As the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu declared the event opened, he drew parallels in the strides the state had made in the justice sector.
The governor acknowledged that more work had to be done by the government and other stakeholders in the administration of criminal justice on the heels of the keynote address by Mr. Gregory Vijayendran, a former President, the Law Society of Republic of Singapore.
Reiterating lessons from Singapore, the keynote speaker, hinted on ways to enhance administration of justice.
Mr. Gregory disclosed that Republic of Singapore has always relied on the rule of law.
He highlighted this in his presentation of lessons Lagos can learn from the island country and city-state.
According to him, “The moment we know there is a trend changing in the world, we change and very forward looking, business centric outlook.”
He cited link between access to justice and the rule of law, economic outcomes about facts and figures and zero tolerance for corruption.
He mouthed world class judiciary, strong local legal talent, supplemented by global talent, dispute resolution institutions with strong governance.
Speaking further, Sanwo-Olu reeled out Lagos interventions, as well as revealed that plans are underway to make Lagos an international financial centre, where Lagos can be a destination for investment, a safe haven for investment worldwide.
“We need a strong judicial system for that to exist. Because that will be one of the strongest points that anybody will be looking for.”
Highlighting this, “That will be one of the strongest protection that will be required and will be needed. We know that people must have access to us. And so that’s why we must ensure that we have no barriers between ourselves.”
He informed that more judges would soon be appointed to the Lagos State Judiciary.
