Lagos Customary Court Judges Get Pay Rise

Justice Oke made the disclosure on Tuesday while swearing in a new set of customary court members and presidents. She, therefore, charged the newly-sworn-in six presidents and two members of the customary court to shun corruption and be dedicated to their jobs. The Chief Judge also advised the new judicial officers to embrace reading as well as protect their integrity. “As customary court presidents and members, you must act with a high level of decorum and within the dictates of your conscience. “The fundamental rights, freedoms and principles underpinning our constitutional democracy must guide you,” Justice Oke added. The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Judicial Service Commission, Mrs Bukola Salami, told the new judicial officers that with their new status, their conduct and carriage had become subjects of public scrutiny. “You must, therefore, maintain a high standard of professionalism, competence and integrity to be able to dispense justice to all manner of people, particularly at the grass roots, without fear or favour, affection or ill will,” she said. Salami, who said the appointment of the new judicial officers was based on their integrity, ability and qualifications, admonished them to “discharge your duties optimally and with a great sense of duty owed to the people of Lagos State.” She said it was her hope that “with the calibre and quality of these new learned personalities, dispensation of justice will be further enriched.” Salami told the new customary court presidents and members that with the Customary Court Law 2018 (amended), their jurisdiction had been extended to “matters arising from marriages solemnised under the native law custom; issues of inheritance not exceeding N500,000 and civil bye-laws passed by local government and council development areas.” She added that in criminal cases where the customary court had jurisdiction, the court could impose a maximum fine of N50,000 on an individual offender and N500,000 on a corporate offender.]]>