LAGOS SET TO REPLACE IGBOSERE HIGH COURT WITH NEW IKOYI COURT

The property at Osborne Foreshore Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, proposed by the Lagos State Government for the relocation of Igbosere High Court will be ready by the end of this month, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, has said. Speaking at the Ministry’s Ministerial Press Briefing tagged ‘Our journey between April 2020 and April 2021’, Onigbanjo explained that this and ongoing statewide construction and renovation of courts were part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s efforts to enhance access to justice. The AG also revealed that the digitalisation of 10 of the State’s courts was ongoing, adding that six of the fully digitalised courts will be ready by October. The facilities will provide “real-time transcripts solution services and fully-automated courts,” Onigbanjo said. This, he noted, will complement the launch of an online platform for checking the status of legal advice and certified true copy of legal advice. He spoke of the ongoing upgrade of the Ministry’s website and social media handles as well as the introduction of Case Management Systems within the MoJ to improve efficiency. Onigbanjo highlighted the MoJ’s efforts to boost law enforcement agencies’ performance by building statement recording/interrogation rooms for the police to enhance prosecution of cases and resolve allegations of torture to obtain facts from suspects. The Igbosere High Court, the country’s oldest and most recognisable judicial building, was attacked on October 22 by hoodlums under the guise of #EndSARS protest. The criminals spent hours looting and vandalising vehicles, furniture, refrigerators, air conditioners and office equipment, among others, before burning down the entire court complex.