Justice Augie

Legal practitioners have reacted differently to the reopening of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal after it was shut in March for renovation. RAMON OLADIMEJI writes

Created in 1976, the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal is currently housed in what is formerly the Supreme Court during the period that Lagos served as the nation’s federal capital.

Though over the years its volume of cases and records has expanded and the number of judges has increased to 11, the building however remained in its original state and the courtrooms have remained two.

Over time, court records grew in volume so much so that available shelves and space provided could no longer house them.

It came to the point when almost every available space on the premises not occupied by anything else was taken up by the numerous case files and court records.

The records could be found stacked up even in the oddest places including the passageways, the court foyer and even the staircases were not spared.

It was not unusual to also see mouldy court records, apparently beaten by rain, resulting from leaking roofs.

Speaking at the conference of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law held in Lagos in May this year, the Presiding Judge of the court, Justice Amina Augie, had lamented that the state of the court had become so deplorable that some of the appellate judges had shifted sitting to a borrowed courtroom on the premises of the Lagos State High Court.

Augie equally expressed frustration over the clumsy and untidy management of court records and case files.

She said that there were many occasions where cases were called and the court registrar would spend so long ransacking through the mountain of files and indeed ending up not finding the file and the judges would be forced to adjourn.

The judge noted at that time that the Court of Appeal was due for some restructuring.

A recent visit to the court revealed that it was beginning to get a new lease of life.

Just before the commencement of the new legal year the two courtrooms had taken very bright looks.

The renovation, which according to sources within the court, began in June this year, was described by some of the court users who spoke with our correspondent as a long due development.

Some of the lawyers recalled that the courtrooms, which now have better lighting and air-conditioning system, were poorly lit and uncomfortable in the recent past.

“These renovations are called for because these courts are really old; this used to be the Supreme Court. But I just got in there now, the air conditioners are really good, the seat are comfortable, I think they also changed the sound system,” a young lawyer, Pelumi Ladelegan enthused. He was familiar with the courtrooms in their former state, having done his internship as a Law School student there.

Another lawyer, Chuks Adiukwu, said that the court was only just now wearing a look befitting of a court of its status.

Adiukwu said,”The renovation is very welcome. It has not been completed yet but from what I am seeing, the Court of Appeal has now taken a new and befitting shape of what the Court of Appeal should look like because this is the busiest division of the Court of Appeal in Nigeria; so we should have a befitting building here. Eventually, when they finish, and I am hoping that they would finish in good time, it would be something worthy of emulation.”

Speaking in similar manner, another lawyer, who was in court to prepare for her upcoming case and gave her name simply as Ayo, recalled that the courtrooms before now were far from being comfortable both for the judges and the lawyers.

She said, “The renovation has brought a lot of improvement considering what the court used to be like. The sitting arrangement, the air conditioning, the lighting, even the way the floors have been remodeled.”

On his part, Mr. Samuel Olorungbemi, also a legal practitioner, recalled that the court in its former state caused the users a lot of embarrassment.

He said, “It is a good development. I was very impressed when I saw it this morning. Everything has changed, especially in terms of compilation or harnessing of records before the sitting of the courts. It would save the judges and everybody unnecessary embarrassment.”

As of the time of the visit, the courtrooms were ready for use. It was also gathered that the judges who shifted their sitting to the High Court had returned.

But when the enthusiastic lawyers were further probed, they expressed divergent views on the question of how much of impact the renovation would have on speedy dispensation of justice.

Ayo said, “I believe that if the judges are comfortable, they would not have to be adjourning cases because of heat and lawyers won’t have to be running around, blowing breeze on themselves because the courts are too hot for them. If not a very large impact, I believe that this renovation would, at least, have a positive impact.”

She added that the compurisation of the court would also go a long way in increasing the efficiency of the court.

She added, “I have a case coming up soon and it is really easier now. Now you get hearing notices via email and you also get notification by text. It makes everything easier on the court and on the lawyers also because you don’t have to wait for the bailiff to come and serve you hearing notices. You can get hearing notices wherever you are.”

Adiukwu shared the same views with Ayo but had a reservation. For him, though the renovation had made the court more conducive for judges and lawyer, not much impact would be made on the speed of justice administration without creation of more courtrooms.

Adiukwu said, “I believe that justice administration will be a lot better now with the new presiding judge. We get hearing notices by text and email and that is how it should be, the court going with the new trend of technology. So I think with this renovation, administration of justice would be hastened.

“I also understand that the cause lists of the court are not going to be as heavy as before where you had twenty-something, thirty matters and the judges had to sit till 4pm almost everyday.

“So I believe that these more comfortable courtrooms will energize the spirit of both the Bar and the bench leading to speedy dispensation of justice.

“However, there is always a room for improvement. The number of courtrooms in this division needs to be increased. Renovation is the first and a right step in the right direction but we need at least between six to eight courts in this Lagos Division especially.”

As for Ladelagan it was premature to say how much of impact the renovation would have, adding that it would take further introduction of technology to achieve any commendable speed in justice administration.

Ladelegan said, “As for whether the renovation would translate into speedy administration of justice, I think that depends on the judges and the lawyers. If we are talking about speed, I believe we should be talking in terms of technology, probably introduction of electronic recorders and stenographers but I have not seen any of that yet.”

But another lawyer, Mr. Azubike Okaro did not think that the renovation had justified the inconvenience occasioned by the shutting down of the court for months.

Okaro lamented the closure of the library since before the court’s vacation, adding that only an expansion of the court could have any significant impact on justice administration.

He said, “I must commend the presiding judge, the renovation is for good. The building has been very old, formerly housing the Supreme Court and now the renovation is overdue.

“But this renovation would not do anything in terms of improving the movement of cases because we have only two courts here and after the renovation the number will remain two.

“The only thing that can lead to a rapid movement of cases is when you have more than two courtrooms, between three to four courtrooms at least, because the appeals are so many that everyday litigants are filing documents. But if the courts still remain two, the renovation cannot change anything in terms of rapid or accelerated determination of cases.”

The Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court and its Administrative Head, Mrs. Ommavuezi Celestina, declined to comment on the issue but led our correspondent around the court to see for himself.

She pointed out a portion of the foyer where she said all the scattered case files would eventually be arranged upon the completion of the renovation works.