GOV. ABIODUN ADVOCATES FRIENDLY CIVIL JUSTICE FOR ALL

 GOV. ABIODUN ADVOCATES FRIENDLY CIVIL JUSTICE FOR ALL

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has stressed the need to entrench user-friendly civil justice, just as he identified absent of justice in the society as one of the factors impacting negatively on the welfare of the people.

Speaking at the launch of the Ogun State Transformation Lab Draft Strategy, at Obas Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun regarded efficient administration of justice, as important pillar and indicator towards the ease of doing business in any society.

"There is no gainsaying that a people-centered approach to justice administration will facilitate equal access to justice for all, and create an enabling environment for both people and local businesses to thrive. To achieve this ideal, justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done. Indeed, a robust and easy access like we envisage under this programme becomes inevitable.

"For us, the creation of Ogun State Civil Justice Transformation Lab Draft Strategy will afford all of us the opportunity to identify the most pressing justice needs of our people, and provide innovative strategies to resolve them. This is because we are aware that inability of citizens to have their justice needs effectively resolved will have a negative impact on their welfare, as well as businesses growth and investment attraction in the society", the Governor noted.

He said the Lab Draft Strategy was geared towards an improved and effective dispute resolution and justice administration, to ensure and maintain the vision and objective of the State, as the safest place to work, live and do business in the country.

Prince Abiodun lauded the collaborative effort of Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL), for facilitating the dialogue session, at the Justice Transformation Lab, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their generous funding and all the participants at the event, adding that its implementation would go a long way in addressing the justice needs of the people.

In her contribution, the Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu said the initiative was another giant step to push justice delivery in the State to a higher level, saying the present administration was committed to improving justice delivery system.

Hon. Justice Dipeolu also informed that the Justice sector was doing its bit to give credence to the good governance agenda of the government, adding that part of the efforts was the implementation of Criminal Justice Law of Ogun State, commending the Attorney-General and other partners for their dedication, towards the draft of the document.

Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Justice and State Attorney- General, Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran noted that the launch of the Strategy would deal with  issues bordering on Land, community and family disputes.

Mr. Adeniran said the draft document began in June 2019, and would be validated, to allow more people look and comment on it, calling on the media to help in disseminating information contained in the document, to serve as a blueprint for the State in civil justice reform.

Also speaking, the Country Director, HIIL, Ijeoma Nwafor said the organisation was trying to come up with innovations that would meet the people's needs in the area of dispensation of justice, adding that the document which focuses on civil justice, would also help encourage investors to the State, knowing that the dispensation of justice was fast and accurate.