The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, says she is determined to ensure that the Lagos judiciary remains a model in Nigeria and Africa.
Atilade also said the newly-introduced Bail Information Management System will be used in capturing and documenting the biometrics of accused and their sureties, adding that such would go a long way in fast-tracking the dispensation of justice in the state.
She assured citizens of the commitment of the judiciary under her watch to ensuring that justice was served to all.
She said, “The Lagos State judiciary will continue to perform its responsibilities and also provide modern infrastructure that will help in the quick dispensation of justice.
“We must be steadfast and honest while discharging our duties as officers in the temple of justice. We will ensure justice in all cases and at all times.”
Atilade explained that the newly-introduced BIMS was targeted at addressing abuse of court processes by some “unscrupulous lawyers and professional sureties.”
“The trials of suspects are usually delayed due to non-production in court by prison authorities who sometimes cannot even identify their specific places of remand.
“The BIMS will be deployed in the 22 magisterial districts and the Lagos and Ikeja divisions of the Lagos State High Court.
“The information will be linked to a centralised database accessible to everybody and give judges and magistrates confidence to grant bail to suspects.
“It will help to address the issue of awaiting trial inmates because suspects can easily be tracked from the system,” Atilade said.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mrs. Funke Adekoya, while speaking on ‘The role of the bar in attaining effective and efficient justice delivery’, advised judges against indulging lawyers in a way capable of hampering justice delivery.
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