Nigeria shuts court

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By Lucky Lawal

The Lagos State Judicial Council has ordered that the Somolu Magistrate’s court (Court 12) be closed for lack of proper maintenance.

It was gathered that the Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips set up a panel to visit all the courts in the council areas and when the panel got to Somolu, the court was in a deplorable condition.

The office of the court registrar leaks whenever it rains. There are no louvres on the windows, poor ventilation, lack of chairs for litigants, while only few plastic chairs are in the courtroom. A staff of the court who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Somolu Local Government was supposed to be responsible for the maintenance of the court.

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He stated that at a point in time, he visited the court and the presiding magistrate listed the basic facilities needed by the court which were forwarded to the local government but no serious steps were taken to put those things in place.

A lawyer who also does not want his name mentioned decried the poor state of Somolu Magistrate’s court which had been in existence for over 30 years. He said the courts are located in an area on the request of the council which is also expected to maintain the courts. But in the case of Somolu magistrate’s court, the council has failed to play its role.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. B.O. Osunsanmi declined comments but reacted briefly, “I just know they have relocated the court.” Chairman of Somolu Local Government, Omooba Gbolahan Bagostowe was said to be in a meeting  when P.M.NEWS visited his office Tuesday for his comments.

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