The Mobile Court, which will be manned by highly-qualified Magistrates of the State Judiciary, will summarily try cases involving traffic and environmental offenders.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem said the launch of the Mobile Court, was one of the ways through which the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode aims to broaden the pathway that guaranty citizens' access to justice and at the same time ensure the preservation of civility in the society.
He said the development was an institutional reaction to identified societal challenges, and that henceforth traffic offenders such as motorcyclists who drive against traffic and refused to obey traffic signs like zebra crossing and traffic light indication, would no longer find it easy to get away with commission of such crimes in the state.
Kazeem, who disclosed that henceforth driving on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes of non-designated vehicles by anyone including military personnel, would attract prosecution before the Mobile Court, also warned people to desist from parking at undesignated places and indulging in noise pollution and street trading among others, saying such offences would be handled by the court.
He added: "These set of offences appear to be so simple but the reduction of its commission I believe is a major yardstick in determining how much we have progressed as a civilized society.
"It may seems simple, but its significance and expected impact to the society is a lot more profound," Kazeem said.
Speaking on the importance of the event, the Attorney General said: "This event is even more momentous because It is a symbolic indication of some of the most important policies of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode's administration on law and order which rest on the premise that no society will thrive in an atmosphere of lawlessness and disorder.
"This administration recognize that as Africa's fastest growing mega city, law and order are critical pillars for sustaining democratic life. The state government has dedicated an enormous amount of manpower and financial resources in seeking better living standard by provision of roads, drainages and transportation system to mention but a few and it has enacted traffic and environmental laws to ensure the state remains environmentally friendly all the time.
"Yet some have chosen or deliberately refused to obey these laws. This is not entirely surprising as the history of mankind as shown that obedience to societal laws has never been entirely voluntary. Therefore, prompt and fair adjudication as well as the certainty of enforcement and penalties constitute the necessary inducement for respect and obedience of laws. For most people, where justice is delayed or denied, the victim is bound to feel some frustration, outrage or even further disrespect for law and order and if the same trend is allowed to take whole the very basis of an orderly society wears out gradually and steadily," he said.
On her part, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade said with the launch of the Mobile Court, the era of recklessness and lawlessness on Lagos roads were gone for good, as no government would fold its arms and watch the violation of traffic and environmental laws.
Justice Atilade, who lamented the death of a 25-year-old British Nigerian graduate, Doyin Serah Fagbenro who was killed by a reckless Danfo Driver about three weeks ago in Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos, said the story of the victim was just one of the many deaths occurring as a result of reckless driving and indiscipline.
"This must not be allowed to continue. Let it be known to all that the era of recklessness and impunity on our public roads and highways in Lagos State is gone. Those who chose to make life difficult for other people especially on our roads should have a rethink as they will henceforth be held accountable for their deeds," Justice Atilade warned.
The special Offences court was established in 1994 to try essentially environmental Offences and it has been vested with powers to sit in any convenient place close to the scene of commission of any offence triable by it.
Though summary in nature, the proceedings before the Mobile Court will be operated in according with rules of natural justice and fair hearing.
There will be lawyers from the office of the Public Defender for any defendant who so desires to be defended, while defendants can also appoint any lawyer of their choice to defend them.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem said the launch of the Mobile Court, was one of the ways through which the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode aims to broaden the pathway that guaranty citizens' access to justice and at the same time ensure the preservation of civility in the society.
He said the development was an institutional reaction to identified societal challenges, and that henceforth traffic offenders such as motorcyclists who drive against traffic and refused to obey traffic signs like zebra crossing and traffic light indication, would no longer find it easy to get away with commission of such crimes in the state.
He also said commercial bus drivers popularly known as Danfo Drivers on motion with their doors open thereby endangering lives of those of their passengers and other road users, would equally be prosecuted before the Mobile Court, while anyone crossing the highway where pedestrian bridges are provided, would equally face trial.
Kazeem, who disclosed that henceforth driving on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes of non-designated vehicles by anyone including military personnel, would attract prosecution before the Mobile Court, also warned people to desist from parking at undesignated places and indulging in noise pollution and street trading among others, saying such offences would be handled by the court.
He added: "These set of offences appear to be so simple but the reduction of its commission I believe is a major yardstick in determining how much we have progressed as a civilized society.
"It may seems simple, but its significance and expected impact to the society is a lot more profound," Kazeem said.
Speaking on the importance of the event, the Attorney General said: "This event is even more momentous because It is a symbolic indication of some of the most important policies of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode's administration on law and order which rest on the premise that no society will thrive in an atmosphere of lawlessness and disorder.
"This administration recognize that as Africa's fastest growing mega city, law and order are critical pillars for sustaining democratic life. The state government has dedicated an enormous amount of manpower and financial resources in seeking better living standard by provision of roads, drainages and transportation system to mention but a few and it has enacted traffic and environmental laws to ensure the state remains environmentally friendly all the time.
"Yet some have chosen or deliberately refused to obey these laws. This is not entirely surprising as the history of mankind as shown that obedience to societal laws has never been entirely voluntary. Therefore, prompt and fair adjudication as well as the certainty of enforcement and penalties constitute the necessary inducement for respect and obedience of laws. For most people, where justice is delayed or denied, the victim is bound to feel some frustration, outrage or even further disrespect for law and order and if the same trend is allowed to take whole the very basis of an orderly society wears out gradually and steadily," he said.
On her part, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade said with the launch of the Mobile Court, the era of recklessness and lawlessness on Lagos roads were gone for good, as no government would fold its arms and watch the violation of traffic and environmental laws.
Justice Atilade, who lamented the death of a 25-year-old British Nigerian graduate, Doyin Serah Fagbenro who was killed by a reckless Danfo Driver about three weeks ago in Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos, said the story of the victim was just one of the many deaths occurring as a result of reckless driving and indiscipline.
"This must not be allowed to continue. Let it be known to all that the era of recklessness and impunity on our public roads and highways in Lagos State is gone. Those who chose to make life difficult for other people especially on our roads should have a rethink as they will henceforth be held accountable for their deeds," Justice Atilade warned.
The special Offences court was established in 1994 to try essentially environmental Offences and it has been vested with powers to sit in any convenient place close to the scene of commission of any offence triable by it.
Though summary in nature, the proceedings before the Mobile Court will be operated in according with rules of natural justice and fair hearing.
There will be lawyers from the office of the Public Defender for any defendant who so desires to be defended, while defendants can also appoint any lawyer of their choice to defend them.
SIGNED
BOLA AKINGBADE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
LAGOS STATE
40 comments:
Hmmm. OK.
Enugu's second shoe designer
Gd one
-D great anonymous now as Vivian Reginalds
Cool
#iT wiLL oNLy gET beTTer
#iT mUsT eNd iN prAise
Nice move..
Hmmmm, anyway it will help to check a number of traffic offences
Nice move, Ambode is really working.
. ~BONARIO~says so via NOKIA LUMIA
Okay, it's a good one
LINDA MY LINDA
Pray it works. Nice one
Lol. * it's well*
Noted
Issorite
AJ MAIN BOY...
Okay
#Hajia Mufliat
Ok
Let see how its works. Hope dey hv enough foot soldiers
We need this in Ph.....ProudlyDeltan
Thank God finalyy those okada, danfo and keke will start using their brains. And no more street trading. Let them scatter that bariga market too
Ambode no get sense of managing lagos.
I swear down,I regretted ever voting for Ambode.
Jimi would have been a better candidate but with a wrong party.
Its such a welcome idea...nice one!
Good
How about trailers tankers and lorries that dont adhere to the timing btw 9pm and 6am, will they be tried also? They add to a large % of traffic and accidents
Ok,good
Motorists pls drive with caution for gathering and losing one's resources due to payment of fines is disheartening
Very good, they should also make mobile Jail even if its for 5-10hour imprisonment and later tranfer them to kirikiri depending on how grevious their offenses are
Story Story, just another avenue opened up to milk money off people!! Mtcheeeeew
Ok
Ok nice...
Nice one
...merited happiness
Ok noted...pray it lasts and wnt be clouded with bribery n corruption tales later
(Linda d Kim K's fan)
Dats better! Linda take note!
How would Lagos state gather traffic offence evidence to persecute traffic offenders. The traffic lights don't even have a system to detect when you run the light
Okay, seen
Okay ooooooo
Better.
Ok
Okay ooo.jumbo
Ambode Don open multimillion nairn business for Lastma.
Good one. Need something like that for road exploiter's called police
Ok o
They need cameras to prove these offenses... all da best ooo
All the danfo drivers will seat right.
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