Amendments Of Customary, Magistrate Laws Will Strengthen Justice Adminstration-OGHA

The Ogun State House of Assembly says the amendments of the customary and magistrate courts laws will ensure the expansion of the coverage of justice administration and speed up judicial process as well as reducing the volume of cases being handled by the High Courts in the State, thereby helping to decongest the prisons.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Suraju Ishola Adekunbi stated this while welcoming stakeholders at the public hearing of the bills titled: “HB NO. 04/OG/2017- a bill for a law to amend the Customary Courts Law, 1986 as well as “HB NO. 05/OG/2016 – a bill for a law to amend the Magistrates’ Courts Law, 1986 at the Assembly complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Adekunbi, represented by his Deputy, Hon. Olakunle Oluomo explained that the amendments of the two bills would bring about speedy and timely justice delivery for all without discrimination in race, sex, geographical location or political affiliation, adding that it would serve as catalysts to boost the activities of the State judiciary.
The Speaker who acknowledged that the State was undergoing series of transformation in spite the current economic downturn, stressed that the forum was another opportunity for the stakeholders partake in the efforts of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun led- administration at ensuring an enduring legacies in all sectors of the State economy.
He said that the forum would afford stakeholders in the legal/judicial sector to contribute their inputs and views towards having all-inclusive bills; promising that the bills would be given accelerated passage.
In their separate submissions, the Deputy Chief Registrars in the State Judiciary, Mr. Anthony Araba and Mr. Akeem Adenariwo, as well as a former Honourable member and private legal practitioner, Barr. Benjamin Ogunmodede sought for the appearance of lawyers in Grade A Customary Court and an increase in some fines to reflect the current economic realities.
Contributing, the Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Abeokuta branch, Mr. Ibrahim Atanda urged requested for a minimum of five year post call active practice for the President of the Customary Courts Grade A, adding that the monetary fine should not be too low so as to achieve the necessary deterrence to reduce crime rate in the State.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Justice, Ethics and Public Petitions, Hon. Adebowale Ojuri, lauded the stakeholders for their robust contributions to the bills, assuring that the bills when passed into law, would serve as a platform and training ground for Presidents of the proposed Customary Court of Appeal.