By Abdul Abdulwahab, Bartholomew Madukwe & Jane Echewodo

Lagos—Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade, yesterday reaffirmed her commitment in advancing the course of justice and effective dispensation of justice .

“Our various reforms and innovative programmes are geared towards advancing the course of justice and to ensure quick and effective dispensation of justice,” she said.

The CJ, who was represented by Deputy Chief Registrar, DCR Legal, Mrs A.O Okunnuga, at this year’s National Association of Judiciary Correspondents (NAJUC) lecture, Lagos, maintained that journalism has over the years made impact on sustainable growth and human development in the society.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Babatunde Fashanu, on his part, said effective justice delivery cannot be the only way the Nigerian problems could be solved.

In his words: “It is very important that we get our justice system right. There are very courageous judges, especially in the Lagos State judiciary. Judges must be well paid for them to work well.”

Another SAN, Sylva Ogwemoh, however, argued that it takes a lazy judge to condone a lazy lawyer.

He subsequently suggested that judges’ salaries should be based on the volume of cases delivered on.

In his keynote address, the occasion’s Chairman, Chief Lai Babatunde (SAN), represented by the Chairman, Ikeja Branch of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Yinka Farounbi, said the lecture was fundamental to Nigeria’s existence.

In his welcome address, Ikeja branch Chairman of NAJUC, Akinwale Akintunde, said the lecture wass designed towards providing, “Avenue for us all to take a critical look at the state of affairs of this nation, especially the judiciary sector and in the process identify those things which have the capacity about the desired change.”