The Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, in Lagos State, Mr. Lawal Pedro said the Lagos State Ministry of Justice under his watch has achieved more with justice reforms in line with the themes agenda of the Lagos State Government.
Mr. Pedro stated this on Tuesday at a media parley with Judicial Correspondents in the state when reeling out achievements of the ministry and ongoing efforts to address voluntary compliance with the state law.
Civil justice, tenancy laws to end prolonged cases -Attorney General
He however, hinted that reform would also be seen in the area of civil administration of justice in the State.
According to the Attorney General, “On the civil side, the state has proposed the Administration of Civil Justice Law before the House of Assembly to ensure cases in Lagos courts do not exceed 12 to 18 months.”
He said when the law is passed, such intervention would address tenancy disputes, where cases sometimes linger for years while tenants remain in properties without paying rent.
He wondered, “How can a tenant take his landlord to court? This is a tenant that has not paid for the last one year. He takes his landlord to court, and the matter is in court for five years. That, in our view, is injustice.”
Under the proposed law, tenancy matters will be resolved within three to six months. Tenants seeking court intervention must first show proof of rent payment, service charges, and utility bills.
The AG said this reform would encourage real estate investment while protecting both landlords and tenants from abuse of the legal process.
He further explained that Lagos State has strengthened administration of justice with the deployment of a criminal information system capable of tracking any defendant across Lagos courts and correctional centres through biometrics and digital records.
He disclosed that Lagos is among the few states operating the system that captures biometric data, photographs, and forensic details of inmates and defendants, whether on bail, undergoing trial, or serving sentences in correctional centres.
“Anybody that has contact with any of our courts today, whether they are granted bail or not, your biometrics, your picture, will be identified easily.”
The system, according to him, is built on collaboration between the courts, police, and correctional facilities.
Strengthening access to justice and victim protection
He further revealed that Lagos now operates a witness protection and support framework aimed at making the criminal justice system faster and more effective.
In collaboration with the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, the state also helped decongest appellate cases.
“We were able to do no less than 400 appeals within one week.”
The state has also upgraded the Bureau of Public Defender and the Citizen Mediation Centre, increasing staffing and administrative leadership to improve access to justice.
The Directorate of Civil Rights and the Sexual and Domestic Violence Agency continue to provide protection, shelter, and prosecution support for victims, while district attorneys ensure suspects’ rights are preserved in magistrate courts.
Also welcoming journalists at the meeting, the Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Mr. Hameed Oyenuga, said the engagement was designed to judicial correspondents with the ministry’s initiatives and reforms.
Oyenuga said the ministry was committed to transparency and collaboration with the media in advancing justice delivery across Lagos State.
