Lagos state launches mobile court for traffic, environmental offenders

The Lagos State Government on
Friday inaugurated the Special Offences (Mobile)
Court to summarily deal with growing cases of
traffic and environmental abuses in the state with
the view to bring sanity and civility in the conduct
of residents.
The Mobile Court, which will be manned by
highly-qualified Magistrates of the State
Judiciary, will summarily try cases involving
traffic and environmental offenders.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at
the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, the State
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice,
Mr. Adeniji Kazeem said the launch of the Mobile
Court, was one of the ways through which the
administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode
aims to broaden the pathway that guaranty
citizens' access to justice and at the same time
ensure the preservation of civility in the society.
He said the development was an institutional
reaction to identified societal challenges, and that
henceforth traffic offenders such as motorcyclists
who drive against traffic and refused to obey
traffic signs like zebra crossing and traffic light
indication, would no longer find it easy to get
away with commission of such crimes in the
state.
He also said commercial bus drivers popularly
known as Danfo Drivers on motion with their
doors open thereby endangering lives of those of
their passengers and other road users, would
equally be prosecuted before the Mobile Court,
while anyone crossing the highway where
pedestrian bridges are provided, would equally
face trial.
Kazeem, who disclosed that henceforth driving on
Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes of non-designated
vehicles by anyone including military personnel,
would attract prosecution before the Mobile Court,
also warned people to desist from parking at
undesignated places and indulging in noise
pollution and street trading among others, saying
such offences would be handled by the court.
He added: "These set of offences appear to be so
simple but the reduction of its commission I
believe is a major yardstick in determining how
much we have progressed as a civilized society.
"It may seems simple, but its significance and
expected impact to the society is a lot more
profound," Kazeem said.
Speaking on the importance of the event, the
Attorney General said: "This event is even more
momentous because It is a symbolic indication of
some of the most important policies of Governor
Akinwunmi Ambode's administration on law and
order which rest on the premise that no society
will thrive in an atmosphere of lawlessness and
disorder.
"This administration recognize that as Africa's
fastest growing mega city, law and order are
critical pillars for sustaining democratic life. The
state government has dedicated an enormous
amount of manpower and financial resources in
seeking better living standard by provision of
roads, drainages and transportation system to
mention but a few and it has enacted traffic and
environmental laws to ensure the state remains
environmentally friendly all the time.
"Yet some have chosen or deliberately refused to
obey these laws. This is not entirely surprising as
the history of mankind as shown that obedience
to societal laws has never been entirely voluntary.
Therefore, prompt and fair adjudication as well as
the certainty of enforcement and penalties
constitute the necessary inducement for respect
and obedience of laws. For most people, where
justice is delayed or denied, the victim is bound
to feel some frustration, outrage or even further
disrespect for law and order and if the same trend
is allowed to take whole the very basis of an
orderly society wears out gradually and steadily,"
he said.
On her part, the Chief Judge of Lagos State,
Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade said with the launch
of the Mobile Court, the era of recklessness and
lawlessness on Lagos roads were gone for good,
as no government would fold its arms and watch
the violation of traffic and environmental laws.
Justice Atilade, who lamented the death of a 25-
year-old British Nigerian graduate, Doyin Serah
Fagbenro who was killed by a reckless Danfo
Driver about three weeks ago in Lekki-Ajah area
of Lagos, said the story of the victim was just
one of the many deaths occurring as a result of
reckless driving and indiscipline.
"This must not be allowed to continue. Let it be
known to all that the era of recklessness and
impunity on our public roads and highways in
Lagos State is gone. Those who chose to make
life difficult for other people especially on our
roads should have a rethink as they will
henceforth be held accountable for their deeds,"
Justice Atilade warned.
The special Offences court was established in
1994 to try essentially environmental Offences
and it has been vested with powers to sit in any
convenient place close to the scene of
commission of any offence triable by it.
Though summary in nature, the proceedings
before the Mobile Court will be operated in
according with rules of natural justice and fair
hearing.
There will be lawyers from the office of the Public
Defender for any defendant who so desires to be
defended, while defendants can also appoint any
lawyer of their choice to defend them.





SIGNED
BOLA AKINGBADE
DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
LAGOS STATE