Lagos State Government Set To Fully Digitalize Court System Pre-Pandemic— AG., Onigbanjo, SAN

Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), the Lagos State Attorney General has disclosed the decision of the Lagos State Government to fully embark on the digitalization of the Courts.

Mr. Onigbanjo,SAN noted that the quest to the digitalisation of Courts is a top priority in the agenda of the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

However, it was noted that the outbreak of the dreaded Coronavirus pandemic had obstructed plans to embark on the project as at when stated. This is because, the ban on international flight as a result of the pandemic made the foreign experts unable to come with the necessary equipment needed in achieving the mandate.

The Attorney General disclosed this at a press briefing occasion, marking the one year anniversary of Governor Babajide on Wednesday at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State.

According to the Attorney General:

“That is one of our plans that COVID-19 affected a bit. We were to go on full-scale digitalisation, at least, by the end of this legal year, but because of the pandemic, we have not been able to conclude the contract to digitalise (the courts).

“Also, the equipment and the people who will be deployed to install them have not been able to come into the country. But we are looking at alternatives and surely, that digitalisation will be done before the end of this year.”

Furthermore, the Attorney General disclosed that measures are being put in place on the unabated controversies surrounding the legality of virtual Court proceedings.

In another development, the Attorney General made known the efforts of the State Government targed at decongestion of the correctional centres in the State. He noted that over 400 applications are before different Courts to discontinue some criminal cases.

According to Mr. Onigbanjo, SAN:

“These are old cases that have been pending for a long time; the witnesses are difficult to find. So, when we look at those cases, the chances of success are very slim and we have, as we speak, filed notices to discontinue over 400 criminal cases.

“What it means is that when the courts call up those matters; all the defendants who are in custody will be released,”

Besides, Mr. Onigbanjo,SAN disclosed that the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions had being in receipt of 1,092 case files, given 1,079 advice and 1,148 charges filed before the Court.

In addition, the Attorney General noted that the Lagos State Ministry of Justice received 282 applications for a plea bargain, 230 applications were agreed on while 52 were rejected.

Furthermore, for violations of the initial lockdown order, the Attorney General remarked:

“A total of 2,249 offenders were sentenced to community service for various offences. The sentences were served at various public institutions, including hospitals, remand homes, traffic management, and market sanitations,”