In a move to strengthen the digital justice system in the state, the Lagos State Judiciary has trained 141 magistrates on the use of Lagos Criminal Information System (LCIS), a central component of ongoing reforms.

Justice Rahman Oshodi, who represented the Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, spoke at the training session themed “Do It Yourself,” held at the Lagos State Judicial Training Institute, GRA, Ikeja.

In his remark, he said the LCIS had replaced guesswork with verifiable data in the criminal justice process, challenging public assumptions that, for years, were “profoundly wrong.”

He noted that most members of the public do not read court judgments and instead rely on media summaries and inaccurate claims that often shape perceptions of judicial performance. One of such misconceptions, he said, is the belief that over 90 per cent of inmates in custodial centres are awaiting trial.

Oshodi referred to a recent national data showing that 64 per cent of 80,812 inmates were awaiting trial, a situation he described as troubling, but emphasised that the Lagos State government presents a very different reality.

“It is the LCIS that tells it”, he said.

According to him, the system captures the exact point at which a defendant ceases to be awaiting trial and becomes a person undergoing trial.

The LCIS data, he said, showed that no fewer than 10 per cent of inmates in Lagos State are awaiting trial, while approximately 60 per cent are defendants already arraigned and currently standing trial.

Oshodi said that since its commencement in 2018, LCIS had processed more than 74,000 cases, describing it as comprehensive, biometric, and publicly accountable, adding that it delivers tangible savings by helping courts identify custodial locations accurately and avoid issuing multiple warrants.

He, however, urged magistrates to fully engage with the platform, stressing that its use is now integral to the efficiency and integrity of court processes.

The two-day training was facilitated by the Chief Executive Officer of Global T&T New Solutions, Musbau Famuyiwa, the state’s legal technology expert.

Famuyiwa said the programme was designed to empower magistrates to manage digital case files, access real-time information and enhance coordination with law-enforcement agencies.

He said the LCIS improves accuracy, transparency and easy retrieval of case-related data. The system, he added, enables courts to track scanned documents, verify uploaded information and interface seamlessly with institutions such as the police.

Famuyiwa, therefore, noted that the platform will reduce delays, eliminate records duplication and generate continuous reports that support judicial decision-making, adding that the initiative reflects the state government’s commitment to modernising justice delivery as part of broader reforms led by the Ministry of Justice.

Earlier, the Chief Registrar, Tajudeen Elias, said the training had become necessary to reduce delays in accessing case updates and to shift the judiciary away from reliance on WhatsApp messages for status inquiries.

He, however, encouraged magistrates to pay close attention during the sessions, saying the initiative would boost efficiency, accuracy and self-reliance in criminal justice administration.

One of the participants, Magistrate McDavies Amore, commended the judiciary for introducing the digital training, describing it as “explosive, enlightening and inevitable” for a modern justice system.

He said the programme had strengthened magistrates’ understanding of 21st-century digital processes, a crucial element of ongoing reforms in the state.

He, however, urged the media to help sensitise the public on the distinctions, stressing that accurate data from correctional centres would strengthen confidence in the justice system.