The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba introduced virtual remote proceedings in Correctional Centres to decongest the facilities across the state and ensure the defendant’s access to justice and the right to fair hearing.
The virtual proceedings commenced in January 2025 with the chief judge, approving a total number of 342 inmates who have not been attending court due to logistics issues to benefit from the new initiative.
The virtual hearing platform developed by Global T & T New Solutions Limited was introduced in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, through the directive of Justice Alogba.
However, Chief Magistrate Abosede Botoku of Epe Magisterial District was one of the few Magistrates who first tested the use of virtual trials in criminal cases in the state.
The aim was to reduce the costs of administering justice, save time, reduce the risk of escape by inmates and enhance the quick dispensation of justice at large.
Presently, most of the courtrooms in Lagos have a system, which is used for all matters via application to the court by parties in a suit.
However, the Correctional Centres where the remote proceedings are taking place include Ikoyi Custodial Centre, Kirikiri Medium Correctional Centre and Badagry Correctional Centre.
The virtual proceedings are presided over by the Magistrates who sit from 9 a.m. every Monday and Friday.
However, The Guardian learnt that 15 inmates were discharged and acquitted by the courts remotely.
Some of the inmates who had no lawyers were represented by lawyers from the Office of Public Defender (OPD).
According to a source who preferred anonymity, 234 inmates were the first set out of 342 inmates listed so far for remote proceedings.
The remote court sits in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
Lawyers who witnessed the proceedings lauded Justice Alogba for the innovation to decongest Correctional facilities.
A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Abdullah Olawale Wahab said the establishment of the virtual hearing at the Epe Division of the court was commendable.
He said Lagos Judiciary has taken a leap into the advancement of technology and also put the state ahead of others in the criminal justice administration.
He noted that virtual court proceedings offered several advantages as efficiency and cost savings, reduction of logistical challenges and security arrangements for defendants, witnesses, and judicial officers.
“Similarly, it increases speed, more particularly in the reduction of the time spent on adjournments and delays.
“Besides, it is a cost-saving method, which minimises the need for physical infrastructure, reducing costs associated with court maintenance, utilities, and personnel.
“Apart from increasing accessibility which enables participation from remote locations, it equally improves safety and security, probably reducing risk of prison breaks,” he said.
He therefore urged the judiciary and technical partners to ensure that the virtual hearing process is not vulnerable to manipulation and therefore must operate with the highest level of data protection and cybersecurity.
The Assistant Secretary of NBA Epe, Mr Musa Hassan, also highlighted some of the challenges of the virtual trial and assured that it has come to stay.
He charged all stakeholders to join hands with the judiciary to attain speedy dispensation of justice as justice delayed is justice denied.
However, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Epe Branch, Dr. Saliu Jimoh, decried the slow pace of administration of the criminal justice system in Lagos, which is caused by the logistics challenge of conveying the defendants in custody to courts.
Responding to the trial of 234 inmates in a virtual trial, he said it is a step in the right direction.
