Ogun Judiciary Holds Maiden Virtual Court Proceeding …Says, Justice Can’t Stop Because Of Coronavirus Pandemic

The Ogun State Judiciary on Wednesday held her maiden virtual court proceedings at the State High Court with the new Judiciary Complex, Abeokuta, with two separate criminal cases marked AB/5R/2020 and AB/ 19R/ 2020, ostensibly to test run and fast track the administration of criminal justice in the state using innovative technology amid lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

The proceedings saw the court and one of the Correctional facilities linked together technologically with all sides participating in the process effectively and unhindered.

The first case pertains to the state and Ade Emmanuel while the other also concerns the State and two accused persons – Yusuf Ayinde and Ajibola Samuel, who were charged with “conspiracy and attempted robbery.”

When the first case( State vs Ade Emmanuel) was mentioned before the presiding judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, who doubled as the Chief Justice of the State, the Prosecuting State Counsel, Olusegun Olaotan, told the court that he had three witnesses in respect of the case but could not bring them to court because of the lockdown.

Olaotan, who is the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in the state, sought and got adjournment to enable him perfect the process of assembling his witnesses at the next adjourned date of May 26.

And when the second case was mentioned before Justice Dipeolu, it also suffered similar fate, as Olaotan informed the Court that he had six witnesses but could not get them to attend the proceeding because of the on – going lockdown.

He said the witnesses had not been served the relevant court summons because of the lockdown, assuring that they would be served when the lockdown is relaxed.

The State Prosecution Counsel, Olaotan, therefore, applied for an adjournment and was granted by the Court as the defence Counsel, Rasheed Salam, was not opposed to it.

Consequently, the matter was adjourned till June 9, for mention.

Speaking with reporters after the proceedings, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ogun State, Gbolahan Adeniran, said “justice can’t stop because of the coronavirus pandemic and the associated lockdown” hence the need to use the innovation in technology to keep the court working.

Adeniran said further that the maiden edition was an opportunity to test run the process and to prepare them as to what to expect during a full blown proceeding or trial session, adding that many judiciary officers were being trained on the technology to ensure the effectiveness of the innovation.