Lagos to introduce night sittings for Magistrate Courts — Fashola

By MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO

Lagos state government is making moves to introduce night court proceedings in the magistrate courts across the state.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state, who disclosed yesterday at the 9th quarterly Executive and Legislative parley, themed:” Law, order and the enhancement of living standards in Lagos state’ held in Lekki, Lagos, said that the aim of the initiative is to strengthen the judiciary sector and further promote the enthronement of law and order in the state.

According to Fashola, “In the fullness of time, as  I have been told by the state ministry of Justice, we may begin night sittings as we review some of the laws in the state.

“Just recently, we commenced the Saturday court sitting processes in Lagos state. The aim is to ensure that in six days instead of five days, residents of the state have access to justice at the lowest level. This level is the first contact of the citizens of the state with the justice system,” he added.

Fashola said “the enthronement of law and order was a pre-eminent condition for a free and safe society; no nation or state could achieve sustainable development without it.”

He added “the strict enforcement of law and order by the state government had ensured security of lives and properties, adding it had enhanced living standards.

“If we look at some of the events in our state in the last few weeks, we would see what could have happened differently or conversely, where we have seen the enthronement of law and other, or where we have seen some optimal implementation.

“We had a fire outbreak in Jankara in December and all of the makings of law of compliance were forsaken in that part”.