Security :Lagos Attorney-General meets CJ, police boss, seeks collaboration

The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, has pledged the continuous cooperation and support of the Executive for the Judiciary in a bid to promote efficient and speedy administration of justice and the rule of law.

Kazeem made the pledge when he led top management staff of his Ministry on a courtesy visit to the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Funmilayo Atilade.

He said the meeting was aimed at setting the tone for a cordial relationship between the judiciary and the executive arms of government, adding that that the judiciary was an important arm of government and essential to the operation of the principle of separation of powers.

Recognising the vital role of the judiciary both as an arm of the government and in the dispensation of justice, the Attorney-General advocated the need to bridge the gap between both arms of government.

He promised to address some of the challenges encountered by the judiciary in the effective administration of justice and seek means of finding lasting solutions.

Justice Atilade said the Judiciary arm was looking forward to a good working relationship with the state government.

She, however, listed some concerns limiting the arm of government, including the need for fiscal independence of the judiciary, effective transportation of accused persons to court, and physical state of the courts with attention on rehabilitation and completion of some projects.

The CJ also listed the appointment of facility managers for courts, social workers for Family Courts, and other issues relating to appointment of Court Administrator as a few of the outstanding issues.

At the meeting, the need to open the channel of communication, where challenges would be discussed, was brought to fore.

Other areas the meeting touched included prosecution of criminal matters, prompt assignment and hearing of criminal cases, provision of court interpreters, and use of information technology in enhancing access to justice delivery.

In a similar development, the Attorney General also met with the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, where he canvassed the need to embrace technology in the prosecution of criminal matters as well as foster cooperation and means of tackling some security challenges of the state.

Commending the efforts of the Lagos Command of the Nigerian Police, Kazeem stressed the need to have a standing committee between the state government and the command with a view to having regular meetings and open the channel of communication with the Police.