Lagos committed to delivering justice with speed, accountability – Hamzat
L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat , and the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro during the opening ceremony of the 2-day Strategic Stakeholders Meeting organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, held today at the Radisson Blu Hotel, GRA, Ikeja.
Published By: Kazeem Ugbodaga
Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Hamzat, has said that the state government is committed to building a more responsive, inclusive, and efficient justice system for the overall good of all Lagosians.
Hamzat made this known on Wednesday while declaring open a two-day strategic stakeholders meeting organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice in Ikeja, Lagos.
The Deputy Governor acknowledged the complexity in the dispensation of justice, highlighting its multifaceted nature involving various institutions, systems, and individuals.
He called on the judiciary to consistently ensure promptness, fairness, impartiality, and accountability.
Hamzat stressed that there were numerous cases in the courts requiring urgent decisions.
He specifically lamented the delay in the delivery of justice, citing the rape and murder case involving a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver and a lady, which had dragged on for over a year.
He urged participants at the meeting to critically review the judicial processes in Lagos and find lasting solutions to address these shortcomings.
Speaking further, Hamzat opined that the key differences between African countries and developed nations lie in the rule of law, science, and technology.
He pointed out that the rule of law is becoming increasingly intertwined with technology and science, stating, “The two are now changing our lives whether we like it or not, but we must get the rule of law working.”
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He highlighted that one of the biggest challenges facing the country was the inability to manage land and physical planning laws.
He emphasised that lawyers and judges must be well-versed in land laws to protect the state’s lands and ensure proper physical planning for posterity and future generations. Hamzat stressed the importance of sustainability and collaboration with other stakeholders for the state’s future.
He urged legal practitioners to develop laws that safeguard land from looming threats. “There is a need for everyone to come together as a people to look at the terrestrial threat to our survival, to protect our state, and change our laws, and this must be known by our lawyers and judges,” he said.
Earlier, in his welcome address, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, disclosed that the meeting was a product of insightful discussions during the Lagos Justice Summit held earlier in the year.
He explained that the gathering aimed to provide a unique opportunity for stakeholders to take deliberate steps toward aligning efforts for seamless service delivery and enhanced governance across judicial institutions.
“We are gathered here because we share a common purpose: the pursuit of justice and the well-being of our society. As you know, Lagos State remains committed to the rule of law, accountability, and good governance. However, the delivery of justice is not the responsibility of a single institution—it requires collaborative efforts from all arms of government, law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies, and the community at large,” Pedro said. L-R: Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat (fourth right); the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro (third left) and stakeholders during the opening ceremony of the 2-day Strategic Stakeholders Meeting organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, held today at the Radisson Blu Hotel, GRA, Ikeja.
He further added that the meeting would focus on developing processes to enhance coordination between law enforcement agencies and the Ministry of Justice in Lagos State, particularly in the area of prosecuting state offences, where security agencies are deemed to have the general fiat of the Attorney-General.
Pedro also highlighted several areas of concern that stakeholders would address during the two-day meeting, including law enforcement and the administration of criminal justice, chieftaincy matters, local government administration, environmental issues, and physical planning.
“Additionally, this meeting, aside from addressing conflicts and delays in judicial processes, will also seek to reduce government litigations in court so that the justice delivery system does not get bogged down with avoidable cases. The meeting will allow for questions and answers, ensuring that we not only talk but also frankly discuss all issues affecting our people and the government,” the Attorney-General stated.
