Christian lawyers advocate ecclesiastical court in Lagos State

The Christian Lawyers Fellowship of Nigeria (CLASFON) has urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to establish an Ecclesiastical court for Christians just as an Islamic court has been established for Muslims through the instrumentality of the Customary Law of the state.

This was made known during the body’s recent visit to the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.

Leader of the delegation and Lagos CLASFON Co-ordinator, Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, said: “Section 22 (3) of the Customary Law of Lagos State provides that Lagos State Judicial Service Commission may designate a court to adjudicate on Islamic Law and Matters in relation to marriage, divorce, custody, and inheritance as it deems fit. Mr. Speaker, we equally appeal for legislation that will establish Ecclesiastical court in Lagos to adjudicate on the issues of marriage, divorce, custody, and inheritance on behalf of Christians.”

CLASFON also called for strict implementation of already passed laws that would remove restrictions to the ease of doing business in the state.

Responding, the Speaker encouraged professional bodies like CLASFON to continue to seek ways of greater collaboration with the House, noting that the 1999 Constitution is a clog in the wheel of progress for the provision of adequate security personnel to implement laws passed by the Assembly.

Concerning the establishment of Ecclesiastical court for Christians, the Speaker assured CLASFON that work was already in progress for the amendment of the Customary Law of Lagos State, saying that the law is an old one that needs amendment.