Lagos Chief Judge laud anti corruption war

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade has charged the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to give full support to the state judiciary in its bid to attaining it's set objective of ensuring that justice is served on all.
Speaking during her welcome address at the Bar and Bench Forum which took place at the High Court of Lagos State Foyer, Igbosere, the CJ who insisted that the judiciary under her watch would see to the improvement of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law in the state, maintained that the state judiciary would remain a model in Nigeria and indeed in Africa.
Justice Atilade also called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), to cooperate with the state judiciary so as to aid speedy dispensation of justice in the state.
According to the CJ, "The Lagos State judiciary will continue to perform of its responsibilities and also provide modern infrastructures that would also held in the quick dispensation of justice.
"We must be steadfast and honest while discharging our duties as officers in the temple of justice. We will ensure justice in all cases and at all times."
Justice Atilade explained that the Bail Information Management System (BIMS), newly introduced  into the state's judicial system would capture full documentation of the defendants and their sureties including their biometrics.
The CJ maintained that BIMS is  designed to address some of the unique challenges bedevilling the criminal justice system and to also see to the reduction of abuses by those she termed unscrupulous lawyers and professional sureties.
According to her, "The trials of suspects are usually delayed due to non-production in court by prison authorities who sometimes cannot even identify their specific places of remand.
"The BIMS will be deployed in the 22 magisterial districts and the Lagos and Ikeja Divisions of the Lagos State High Court.
"The information will be linked to a centralised data base accessible to everybody and give judges and magistrates confidence to grant bail to suspects.
"It will help to address the issue of awaiting trial inmates because suspects can easily be tracked from the system." 
Delivering a lecture on the topic, "The role of the Bar in attaining effective and efficient justice delivery," Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Funke Adekoya expressed sadness over a situation where judges unnecessarily indulge lawyers in their various courts. This she said would hamper effective and efficient justice delivery.
While advising younger judges to balance such a development, the SAN said there is the need for all judges to ensure that all cases placed before them ends up with a result.
Adekoya added that, "Cases must be concluded, judgment must be handed down and record of proceedings must be made available."
"For lawyers, they must be able to embrace mediation, avoid objection to stay of proceedings, and avoid unnecessary applications for adjournment."
In making known some of the challenges confronting the administration of justice in the state, as presented by chairmen of the four branches of the NBA in Lagos State, Ikeja branch chairman of NBA, Yinka Farounbi expressed the determination of the Bar to always cooperate and continue to partner with the judiciary in ensuring that an Ideal, efficient, effective and a corrupt free judicial system is achieved in the state.