A bill to amend the High Court Law CAP 85 (2015) of Lagos State (2015) and for other connected purposes was yesterday read for the second time. In overview, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, Acting Chairman Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petition and LASIEC, Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso, said the law as it stands only prescribes the manner of appointing judges whereas it does not provide for the number of Judges to be appointed for the High Court of Lagos State.
She added that presently in the High Court of Lagos State, there are 56 judges to handle all the cases that come up despite its huge population. According to her, “the law is amended to ensure increase in the number of judges instead of restricting ourselves to 56, it can be taken to 120 to make sure that we have enough Judges to handle cases in Lagos State, because justice delayed is justice denied”, he said.
Hon. Tunde Braimoh also expressed that part of the prerogative of the House of Assembly is to determine the number of Judges adequate for the State. He read section 70 (2) paragraph b which state that “the High court of the State shall consist of such number of judges as may be prescribed by the Law of the House of Assembly of the state”.
He further added that the 56 Judges are presently inadequate for a cosmopolitan State like Lagos adding that it will improve access to justice by the people.
Hon. Ogunyemi stated that if passed the amended law will help quicken the dispensation of justice “The bill will also help in decongesting our prisons especially for criminals who are awaiting trials” The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, therefore committed the bill to the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petition and LASIEC to report back in two weeks
