Henry Ojelu
Mobile Courts commissioned by the Lagos State Government on Friday, 5 Feb. 2016
The Lagos State government Friday inaugurated five mobile court buses for road traffic offenders with a pledge to end impunity on the roads.
Attorney General, Kazeem Adeniji and the Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, issued the warning at the inauguration of the buses held at the High court premises, Ikeja.
Justice Atilade who observed that most traffic offenders often evade the consequences of their misdeeds warned that it would no longer be business as usual for them.
The Chief Judge warned, “Let it be known to all that the era of recklessness and impunity on our public roads and highways are gone.
“Those who chose to make life difficult for other people, especially on our roads, should have a re-think, as they would henceforth be held accountable for their misdeeds.”
Justice Atilade pointed out that flagrant disregard and violation of traffic rules is unacceptable and urged the people of the state to discourage and condemn the act.
She identified with the commitment of the state to fully enforce the extant traffic laws and take stiffer measures against road traffic offenders.
She said the judiciary will, on its part, remain committed and stop at nothing to back the initiative of the governnment.
Earlier, the state Attorney General, Kazeem Adeniji, remarked that the mobile courts which represented institutional reaction to identified societal changes will facilitate prompt and immediate trial of road traffic and environmental offenders.
Adeniji listed offences to be tried by the court to include “persons, including motorcyclists, who drive against traffic, refuse to obey traffic signs like Zebra Crossings and Traffic Lights indications, crossing the highways where pedestrian bridges are provided, driving on the BRT by non-designated vehicle and parking at undesignated places, commuter buses on motion with their doors open thereby endangering lives of both their passengers and other road users, noise pollution and street trading, amongst others.”
He expressed hope that the reduction in the commission of these traffic offences will determine how much Lagos has progressed as a civilised society.
The state Attorney General said that the mobile courts will operate in accordance with Schedule 2 to the Special Offences Court Law, Laws of Lagos State 2015 for the Mobile Court’s rules of procedure and with the rules of natural justice, equity and good conscience in line with Constitutional provisions of fair hearing.
He said the courts will be presided over by Magistrates and that there will be Prosecutors from the Ministry of Justice and defence Lawyers from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) who will be readily available to those defendants who so desire.
Adeniji said traffic congestion can become history in Lagos State if Lagosians resolve to make it history.
Lagos commissions mobile courts
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