LAGOS ATTORNEY GENERAL CALLS FOR SUPPORT OF NBA IN THE USE OF TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE SERVICE DELIVERY

L-R; Mr. Layi Babatunde, SAN, Mr. Dele Adesina, SAN, Mr. Dele Oloke, NBA, Ikeja Branch Chairman, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mrs Funlola Odunlami, Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Roland Otaru, SAN, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, Mr. Monday Ubani at the Courtesy visit of the New Executive of Nigerian Bar Association Ikeja Branch and Elders of the Branch to the office of the State Attorney-General on Monday 16th July 2018.

… AS NBA CHAIRMAN PROMISES TO ENGAGE AND PARTNER WITH LASG TO ENSURE SOCIAL
JUSTICE

Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem has promised to lend his support towards ensuring the successful tenure In office for the Newly Elected Executives of the Nigeria Bar Association ( NBA), Ikeja Branch led by its Chairman Mr Dele Oloke who paid him a courtesy visit at The Secretariat, Ikeja, earlier today.
The Courtesy visit of the Bar Association Executive members which included branch Elders, Mr Dele Adeshina SAN, Mr Femi Falana SAN, Mr Roland Otaru SAN and Mr Layi Babatunde SAN and Mr Monday Ubani was to formally introduce the new Executive to the State Attorney General who is the Official Bar head.
The NBA Chairman, Mr Oloke in his remarks during the visit, pledged their preparedness to partner and engage with the State Government with a view to ensuring that social justice for all is realised. In his words, “we are ready to always partner and engage the government on all issues of concern rather than fight government”. According to him, the NBA is a Pressure Group of note that should be seen as partners in progress to assist government in ensuring justice for all.
The Bar Chairman congratulated the Attorney General on his recent elevation to the position of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and called for more assistance from the government in providing a suitable platform for Lawyers in private practice to profitably practice their profession.
In his response, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Adeniji Kazeem expressed his gratitude to the New Executive and the Branch Elders for their visit and congratulatory messages. He pledged the full cooperation of the ministry towards ensuring the successful tenure of the Executive. According to him, he has the full backing of the State Government to key into the programmes of the Bar Association. As such, the Bar would be engaged to play a major role in the review of some of the Laws in the State, for example the Tenancy Law which is under review at the moment. As a critical stakeholder, the Bar is contributing to Law making will ensure people are afforded with a balanced output in Laws enacted as a result of their participation in the Law-making process.
Mr Kazeem also reiterated the use of technology to improve service delivery and justice administration in Lagos State. He made mention of the Lagos State DNA Forensic laboratory and Criminal Data Information System which will assist in Crime detection, Prosecutions and Adjudication.
Earlier, Mr. Dele Adeshina (SAN) a former NBA National General Secretary and Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) two of the four Learned Silks who were part of the Ikeja Branch Elders, welcomed the Attorney General to the Inner Bar and praised the Ministry of Justice for its many achievements under the leadership of Mr Kazeem.
Elders of the branch that spoke at the meeting pledged their support to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and promised to contribute their quota to move justice system forward in

They praised the State Government on various reforms that the State embarked upon like the Multi – Door Court, Witness Support Unit, Citizens Mediation Centre, Domestic and Sexual Violence Court, just to mentioned a few.

According to Mr Adeshina (SAN) the Ministry is a trail blazer in the area of Mediation as a credible alternative to litigation as such, more should be done to encourage resolution and mediation.
Mr. Falana (SAN) on his part, while commending the reforms of the State in Justice Administration, described the State as a Pacesetter. But urged the government to extend the reform in the Justice Sector to the Customary Courts, and advised that Senior Lawyers could be employed into the Customary Courts. Though cautioned that these lawyers must also be trained not turn procedures at such courts into the formal native known at superior courts which will inhabit speedy dispensation of Justice.