…Promises expanded legal aid, digital courts, reduction of awaiting-trial inmates
Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, aspiring governor of Lagos State under the aegis of the All Progressives Congress(APC) has pledged sweeping reforms of the state’s justice system, including raising the civil jurisdiction of Magistrates’ Courts from N10m to N50m, expanding free legal services and deploying digital technology to accelerate the resolution of cases.
Hamzat, in his manifesto on justice and the rule of law, also promised to tackle the backlog of awaiting-trial inmates, expand alternative dispute resolution mechanisms across the state’s five IBILE divisions and strengthen forensic investigations to improve the administration of justice.
These proposed reforms are inside the booklet titled “The Promise” that contains his campaign promises to the people of Lagos State.
He said the proposed reforms would make justice faster, fairer and more accessible to residents, particularly indigent citizens who often struggle to enforce their rights because of financial constraints, procedural delays and inadequate access to legal representation.
According to him, the dignity of every Lagos resident depends on the effectiveness of the courts, legal aid services, mediation centres and police investigation facilities.
Under his proposed justice agenda, Hamzat said his administration would operationalise the proposed Administration of Civil Justice Law, modernise court infrastructure, introduce electronic filing and digital case management, and establish clear timelines for the determination of cases.
He argued that prolonged litigation had imposed considerable hardship on individuals and businesses, adding that commercial disputes that should be resolved within months often remained in court for years.
A major component of the proposed reform is the planned increase in the civil jurisdiction of Magistrates’ Courts from N10m to N50m. Hamzat said the measure would reduce pressure on the High Court by enabling magistrates to handle a wider range of civil and commercial disputes within their jurisdiction.
He described the proposal as one of the quickest ways to ease congestion in the High Court, arguing that it would not require the immediate construction of additional court buildings or the appointment of new judges.
The manifesto noted that many ordinary disputes were pushed to the High Court because of the existing financial limits on the jurisdiction of Magistrates’ Courts, contributing to the growing caseload and delays in the justice system.
On access to justice, Hamzat promised to extend the services of the Office of the Public Defender and the Citizens’ Mediation Bureau to every division of Lagos State.
The Office of the Public Defender, established in 2000, provides legal assistance to eligible residents who cannot afford private legal representation, while the Citizens’ Mediation Bureau offers avenues for resolving disputes without resorting to full court proceedings.
Hamzat said the existing institutions had laid a strong foundation for justice-sector reform but acknowledged that their services did not yet adequately reach every community.
He pledged to strengthen both institutions to ensure that indigent residents could obtain legal representation and access mediation services regardless of their location or financial circumstances.
The proposed expansion of the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse, which was established in 2002, would also provide residents with more opportunities to settle disputes through alternative dispute resolution.
Under the plan, disputes involving landlords and tenants, commercial transactions and family matters could be resolved through mediation and other appropriate mechanisms, reducing the financial and procedural burdens associated with conventional litigation.
Hamzat further promised to work with the judiciary and relevant federal institutions to reduce the number of inmates awaiting trial in correctional facilities.
The manifesto expressed concern over prolonged detention before trial, describing the situation as a challenge to fairness and the effective administration of justice.
It proposed case audits, diversion mechanisms for minor offences and a correctional approach that prioritises rehabilitation alongside lawful custody.
Hamzat also pledged to collaborate with the Nigerian Correctional Service and the Federal Ministry of Interior to address the challenges contributing to prolonged detention and overcrowded custodial facilities.
He said the proposed reforms would seek to transform correctional facilities into places where inmates could acquire useful skills and prepare for reintegration into society.
On criminal investigations, the aspiring governor promised to strengthen Lagos State’s forensic justice infrastructure, building on the existing DNA Forensic Centre.
The proposed measures would include improved forensic capacity for sexual assault cases and cybercrime investigations, with the objective of ensuring that criminal proceedings and judicial outcomes were supported by credible evidence. Hamzat also pledged to uphold professional standards in law enforcement and ensure that the rights and dignity of citizens were respected in their dealings with security personnel.
The manifesto further outlined plans to prepare Lagos State for accountable state policing should the constitutional framework permit its establishment.
According to the document, the state would develop appropriate oversight, training and accountability mechanisms to ensure that any future state policing arrangement operated within professional and constitutional standards.
Hamzat said the implementation of the reforms would require collaboration with the National Judicial Council, the federal judicial system and other relevant institutions.
He also proposed pursuing federal co-financing and multilateral support for judicial infrastructure, access to justice and correctional reforms. On funding, the manifesto identified four proposed areas of intervention: judicial infrastructure, access to justice, correctional reform and forensic justice.
The document said the proposed programme would be assessed against commitments to ensure that residents had access to courts capable of delivering fair and timely decisions, affordable legal assistance and professional law enforcement.
Three key pledges were highlighted in the justice-sector agenda.
The first, described as the Pledge of the Nearer Court, involves raising the civil jurisdiction of Magistrates’ Courts to N50m, expanding court infrastructure across the state’s divisions and improving the welfare and resources available to magistrates.
The second, the Pledge of Legal Access, focuses on extending the services of the Office of the Public Defender and the Citizens’ Mediation Bureau across all divisions.
The third, the Pledge of Forensic Justice, commits to strengthening DNA testing, sexual assault forensic services and cyber-forensic capabilities.
Hamzat also pledged to respect the independence of the judiciary, stressing that the administration of justice must not be confused with the exercise of judicial power.
He said the Lagos State Judiciary would remain a separate arm of government and committed to maintaining the institutional conditions necessary for its independence.
The manifesto acknowledged that Lagos had established several justice-sector institutions over the years, including the Citizens’ Mediation Bureau in 1999, the Office of the Public Defender in 2000, the Lagos Multi-Door Courthouse in 2002 and the DNA Forensic Centre.
However, it argued that persistent delays, rising caseloads, limited access to legal aid and prolonged pretrial detention remained challenges requiring further intervention. Hamzat said an effective justice system was essential not only to protecting individual rights but also to strengthening the state’s economy.
He argued that businesses and investors were more likely to commit resources to an environment where contracts could be enforced, commercial disputes resolved promptly and legal institutions operated predictably.
The proposed reforms, he said, were intended to ensure that justice was accessible to ordinary residents, from traders seeking redress for fraud to tenants challenging unlawful eviction, entrepreneurs pursuing contractual claims and families resolving inheritance disputes.
Under the proposed programme, the administration of justice would therefore be treated as a central pillar of governance, economic development and public confidence in government.
Dear readers, we really need your support to keep on serving you with authoritative, truthful, and juicy stories everyday. For your support, please reach out to the editor @gavelinternational66@gmail.com
