Lagos Govt: Our Mobile Court Will Respect Rights Of Defendants

The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, assured residents on Monday that the Mobile Court recently inaugurated would dispense justice in accordance with the dictates of the law and respect fundamental human rights of defendants charged before the court.

The State Government had a fortnight ago, inaugurated the Special Offences (Mobile) Court to summarily deal with growing cases of traffic and environmental abuses in the State.

Speaking at the inauguration of five vans for the kick off of the court, Kazeem said the introduction of the court was one of the ways through which Governor Akinwunmi Ambode aims to broaden the pathway that guarantee citizens’ access to justice and at the same time ensure the preservation of civility in the society.

While assuring that the Mobile Court will be operated in accordance with rules of natural justice and fair hearing, Kazeem said the Constitutional rights of defendants, being innocent until proven guilty, would be respected and upheld.

Besides, the Attorney General said the prosecution of defendants appearing before the court would be handled by lawyers in the Ministry of Justice, and that he would directly supervise the operation of the prosecuting counsel.

He said there would be lawyers from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) to defend any defendant who so desire to be defended, while defendants can also appoint any lawyer of their choice to defend them.