Lagos Attorney-General Pedro SAN Aims To Expedite Civil And Commercial Cases, Sets Two-Year Timeline

*Advocates Swift Resolution For Landlord-Tenant Disputes, Targeting Six-Month Timelines

Civil and commercial cases should not last beyond two years, Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), has said.

He wondered why the urgency accorded election petitions should not apply to other cases critical the economy. Pedro plans to convene a summit to work out how to shorten the time for determining civil and commercial cases.

“We hope to have cases decided in 24 months. Landlord and tenant matters should be decided in six months,” he said.

Pedro spoke at a reception in his honour, with SANs, his predecessors, Olasupo Shasore (SAN), Ade Ipaye and Adeniyi Kazeem, present.

The SAN said a situation where litigants have no idea when cases will be determined will discourage investments.

“Election petitions are determined quickly, but how about people who have committed a lot of money to investments?

“How will the employment situation be improved if industries are not thriving?

“The only way businesses will thrive is when we have a efficient justice system that guarantees when a litigant will exit the court system.

“I cannot do it alone. I have the commitment of the bar association, and working with the Judiciary, we should be able to ensure cases no longer last more than two years,” he said.

He promised he would ensure effective law enforcement.

“Laws must be enforced and judgments obeyed,” he said.

Among his agenda is decongestion of prisons through non-custodial sentencing so people who commit trivial offences are not sent to jail on conviction.

Pedro got some advice from his predecessors.

Ipaye said an attorney-general could get sucked into cases the state is involved in and take his eyes off welfare and capacity building.

“The training of counsel must be taken serious. I ensured everyone had computer, table, and library,” he said.

Ipaye, who called for speedy issuance of the director of public prosecution’s (DPP’s) advice, said he set up a task force to monitor cases.

“The next most important person to the governor is the attoney general. Everyone turns to him,” Ipaye said.

Kazeem described Pedro as the “ultimate insider”, but stressed despite being familiar with the ministry, the role of an attorney-general differs from solicitor-general.

He urged Pedro to choose the right team, adding he must interface with Judiciary while fighting for workers welfare.

Former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) General Secretary, Dele Adesina (SAN), urged Pedro to work with his colleagues in other states to push for a constitutional amendment to limit cases that go on appeal.

Incumbent NBA General Secretary, Adesina Adegbite, said Pedro will excel in the new role.

“The legacies of Pedro as director of Civil Litigation and permanent secretary/solicitor general underscore the fact now he has opportunity to serve, he will do better,’’ he said.

“He cannot do it alone. We all need to support him so that he will leave the office better than he met it. He mentioned his plan to revamp the administration of the civil justice system in Lagos State.

“What we have now is a situation where you file a case today and you’re in court for 10 or 15 years. That is unacceptable. This is partly due to the high number of cases being filed in Lagos and the limited number of judges.

“We have a peculiar situation, so there should be a peculiar approach to make the justice delivery system faster, simpler and cheaper and this is why we must all support Mr Pedro’s reform agenda.

“It is only when we have an efficient justice system that we can have an economy that is prosperous and attractive to foreign investors.”