All eyes on special, sexual offences court

Lagos always likes to blaze the trail in everything that has to do with reforms, possibly because it is christened the ‘centre of excellence.’

Ensuring that it scores first in judicial reforms as directed by the Chief Judge of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen that all heads of courts in the country should create special courts for the speedy trial of corruption cases, the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke has commissioned four special courts.

In doing that, Justice Oke said it was in obedience to the directive given last year by the CJN that special courts would make the judiciary more efficient and to facilitate the determination of corruption and financial crimes cases timeously.

The division is tagged, “Special and Sexual Offences Courts”. The Chief judge said that it had become imperative in order to ensure speedy dispensation of justice in such matter.

According to her, Lagos judiciary believe strongly that the special court shall fast track those types of cases and encourage the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other relevant bodies like Independent Corrupt Practices and Other related Offences Commission (ICPC) to expedite the investigation and prosecution of such cases.

Her words: “I make bold to say that establishment of special court is a new approach used as a reform strategy to improve judicial performance.”

She said it was cheering that Nigeria was joining the league of other countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, which had since thought it wise to take drastic steps against financial crimes by creating specialised courts.

“Thus, the Special Offences Courts will exclusively handle corruption and financial crime cases and others, including cybercrime and other related offences.

“We have commenced a campaign against corruption in our courts and among supporting staff. All hands are on deck to see an end to these cankerworm that has eaten deeply into the fabric of our judiciary delivery system,” she said.

The CJ said there were no fewer than 500 financial crimes currently pending before the Lagos State High Court, most of which had now been transferred to the special courts for expeditious hearing.

“We must not relent in our determination to see an end to this societal malaise,” she said, adding that the court would attend to sexual and domestic violence cases, which had grown to alarming height in the country.

“Sexual assault has become so rampant in our society. It has spread like wild fire from home to school, to the work place, on the streets, everywhere. Children, young girls and boys and women are constantly at risk of being attacked including the vulnerable ones.

“Although there are legislative instruments in our law books to combat the menace of domestic and sexual violence, they are almost ineffective in curbing the rising tide of sexual assault. This is because many of the incidents are unreported by the victims nor do they seek redress for fear or reprisal or stigmatization. Thus many victims suffer in silence, traumatized and left to cope with emotional and psychological scars,” she declared.

She however noted that the number of reported sexual offences cases in Lagos has increased significantly, adding that there are 600 pending sexual offences cases in high court and those do not include the Magistrate Courts.

Dignitaries present at the inauguration include the acting Chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu.

The Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, Justice Muhammed Garba, represented the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachukwa, while the Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat Adebule, represented the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

Also in attendance was the Solicitor General of Lagos State, Mrs. Funmilola Odunlami, who represented the state’s Attorney General, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem.

Others who graced the occasion were the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, and the Lagos First Lady, Mrs. Dolapo Ambode.

However, Ambode, in a speech delivered by Adebule said Lagos had keyed into the Federal Government’s drive to root out corruption, promising that the state “will assist in the expeditious prosecution of corruption cases.”

The governor described corruption as “a major challenge to the sustainable development in the state,” which must be fiercely combated.

The governor believes that the creation of the special courts would assist in expeditious prosecution of economic and financial crimes and ensures that justice is attained by bringing offenders to justice without delay.

Ambode noted that corruption constituted a major challenge to sustainable development of the country and has adversely affected the integrity, image and business confidence of prospective investors.

He said it is proper to classify Lagos, over 20 million population, as one of the most populous cities of the world “and indeed the economic and financial capital of Nigeria and by extension of West Africa.”

He said: “This naturally makes it the most susceptible to perpetrators of these crimes. This was why the courts are being designated special courts to focus primarily on effective prosecution of these cases given the volume of financial related cases handled in the state.

“I commended the CJN, Justice Onnoghen for this foresight and bold initiative, which is being implemented all over the country. In the same vein, Lagos State is in colaboration with the British Council under the Rule of Law Anti-Corruption programme to provide technical support in the fight against corruption, enhance good governance, strengthening the rule of law and reduction of impunity.

“The state collaborates with such agencies charged with investigation and prosecution of corruption offences, by providing enabling environment in terms of responding to inquiries and providing information to the EFCC and the ICPC toward assisting them in dispensing their statutory functions.”

He however pointed out that the goal to make Lagos State a safe place to live, visit and do business can further be achieved if these specialized courts operate as conceptualized.

Also, on behalf of the Lagos Attorney General, Odunlami congratulated the CJ, noting that is was a laudable event because as usual, Lagos has done something that others have not done.

The representative of appeal court president, Garba lauded the Lagos State Judiciary for yet again “blazing the trail” in implementing CJN’s directives.

Also speaking, the VP’s wife, Dolapo, said the courts “will make access to justice easier and faster for our people.”

The CJ, Dolapo, Adebule and Odunlami, in their separate speeches, lamented the rising cases of rape and domestic violence, while expressing their delight at the creation of special court to try the perpetrators.

Mrs Osinbajo lamented the level of corruption and sexual offences cases in courts, adding that the statistics quoted by the CJ is very frightening.

According to her, behind the figures are the faces of the affected women and girls as well as the men and boys.

Osinbajo said victims of such offences should never be ignored. “We should not ignore the trauma and nightmare that sexual offences bring. Let us not forget the girls not only in Nigeria but all over the world.”

On his part, Magu said: “I think the Chief Judge should be commended for single-handedly, very courageously coming out to initiate this court.

“I want to call on other judges to support the Chief Judge and the CJN. We call on all the other Chief Judges to follow suit by ensuring that they establish similar courts. We are going to fight corruption like it has never been fought before. This year, it’s going to be hell!”

Now that these courts have been created, it is left to be seen how they would help to achieve the objective of expeditious trial of corruption and sexual offences cases in our courts.