…As Sanwo-Olu restates commitment to judicial reforms

By Olasunkanmi Akoni & Henry Ojelu

SOME Islamic scholars including Sheikh Imran Abdul Majeer Elha and Dr AbdulRahman Lawal, yesterday, identified injustice on the part of judiciary and political leaders among citizens as the major cause of the problems currently confronting Nigeria.

This came as Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State reiterated his administration’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and advancing judicial reforms in the State.

They spoke at the Mosque Prayer to Mark the Commencement of the 2024/2025 New Legal Year, held at the Lagos Central Mosque, Lagos Island.

In his lecture titled ‘Exploring the Roles of the Judiciary in Revitalizing Nigeria’s Economy through an Islamic Lens,’ Elha said: “The judicial career is a divine calling, and a career approved by Allah, paralleling it to the noble role of prophets who served as intermediaries between the people, as such, the profession demands utmost fairness, integrity, and dedication.

“On the last day, the sun will be brought closer to people thereby causing serious discomfort; Allah will command shadow to be on only those who judge rightly.”

“Injustice amongst the citizens, such as the usage of an imbalance scale is also a form of injustice, and must be avoided as such people will suffer three punishments from Allah, namely; hunger, cost of goods with unnecessarily high, and bad leaders.

“The three punishments are the major problem we are experiencing in Nigeria today.”

Also speaking in his lecture titled ‘Justice as a Catalyst for Economic Recovery and Political Stability in Nigeria’, Sheikh Lawal, noted that God strongly condemns injustice, having ordained it haram (forbidden) among people, and instead commands justice, fairness, and compassion in all human interactions.

Lawal said: “All those who aid injustice will be in total darkness on the last day. The government must take care of price control and enforce it nationwide.

“With a seamless price control across the nation, the economy will be stable and the issue of immigration to Lagos will reduce.”

Meanwhile, Governor Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the church service by his wife, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu restated his administration’s commitment towards ensuring that the state judiciary is adequately equipped for the speedy dispensation of justice.

The governor gave the assurance yesterday at the special thanksgiving service for commencing the 2024/2025 new legal year of the Lagos State Judiciary held at the Cathedral Church of Christ Marina, Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu said: “The construction of new court complexes and the renovation of existing judicial infrastructure have created a more conducive environment for the dispensation of justice.

“I am particularly proud of the digitalisation of the judiciary’s filing processes, which has significantly reduced delays in filing cases.

“I would also like to take this moment to reaffirm the commitment of the Executive arm of government to uphold the rule of law and advancing judicial reforms. We fully recognize the critical role of the judiciary in maintaining justice and order, and we are committed to supporting and strengthening it in every way possible.

“As we begin this new legal year, we look forward to the completion of important projects, such as the Commercial Court in Tapa, and to the renewed efforts of the judiciary to ensure that Lagos State continues to be a model of progress, justice, and modernity in the legal sphere.”

Speaking at the Jumat service, at the Lagos Central Mosque, Chief Judge of the state, Justice Kazeem Alogba, promised that the judiciary in the state would continue to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.