The Lagos State Judiciary has conducted training for 141 magistrates on use of the Lagos Criminal Information System, LCIS, thereby enhancing the capabilities for digital justice delivery.
The LCIS training held in batches at the Lagos State Judicial Training Institute, Ikeja GRA, aimed to enhance efficiency, transparency and accuracy in handling criminal cases.
Speaking on behalf of the Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, Justice Rahman Oshodi said the initiative has replaced guesswork with reliable data in the criminal justice system.
He noted that public perception of the courts has long been shaped by assumptions rather than facts, as many people rely on media reports instead of reading judgments.
Lagos criminal information system processed 74,000 cases – Judge
Justice Oshodi addressed the widespread belief that over 90 per cent of inmates in Nigerian custodial centres are awaiting trial, describing the assumption as inaccurate.
According to him, recent national data shows that 64 per cent of 80,812 inmates are awaiting trial, a figure he described as concerning.
He said: “However, Lagos State tells a very different story and it is the LCIS that tells it.
“The system captures the exact point at which a defendant ceases to be awaiting trial and becomes a person whose trial is ongoing, and figures from the LCIS show that those truly awaiting trial in Lagos are less than ten per cent of the custodial population, while approximately sixty per cent are defendants already arraigned and undergoing trial.”
He added that since its commencement in 2018, LCIS has processed over 74,000 cases, providing a comprehensive, biometric and publicly accountable database.
Justice Oshodi cited a case where the system exposed a defendant who remained in custody for years after his case was struck out, leading to proper arraignment and eventual conviction.
Stakeholders back digital justice reform
The Lagos Criminal Information System training was facilitated by Mr. Musbau Famuyiwa, Chief Executive Officer of Global T&T New Solutions, who said the programme was designed to strengthen magistrates’ capacity in managing digital case files.
Famuyiwa explained that the platform enables courts to access real-time information, track documents and interface seamlessly with law enforcement agencies.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that magistrates have 99.9 per cent of the tools they need for effective digital justice delivery,” he said.
He added that the system reduces delays, eliminates duplication of records and supports informed decision-making, stressing that the LCIS reflects the government’s commitment to modernising judicial processes.
Earlier, the Chief Registrar, Mr. Tajudeen Elias, said the training would end reliance on informal channels such as WhatsApp for case updates.
“The era of sending case details on WhatsApp and waiting for responses is over. It is time for us to visit the website ourselves and retrieve information directly,” he said.
One of the participants, Magistrate McDavies Amore, described the training as “explosive, enlightening and inevitable,” noting that it equips magistrates with skills needed for a modern justice system.
Amore said the training would improve public access to verified information and correct misconceptions about inmates’ status, urging the media to sensitise the public for better understanding and trust in the justice system.
