Lagos News
Lagos state launches mobile court for traffic, environmental offenders
The Lagos State Government on Friday inaugurated the Special Offences (Mobile) Court to summarily deal with growing cases of traffic and environmental abuses in the state with the view to bring sanity and civility in the conduct of residents.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem said the launch of the Mobile Court, was one of the ways through which the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode aims to broaden the pathway that guaranty citizens’ access to justice and at the same time ensure the preservation of civility in the society.
He said the development was an institutional reaction to identified societal challenges, and that henceforth traffic offenders such as motorcyclists who drive against traffic and refused to obey traffic signs like zebra crossing and traffic light indication, would no longer find it easy to get away with commission of such crimes in the state.
Kazeem, who disclosed that henceforth driving on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes of non-designated vehicles by anyone including military personnel, would attract prosecution before the Mobile Court, also warned people to desist from parking at undesignated places and indulging in noise pollution and street trading among others, saying such offences would be handled by the court.
He added: “These set of offences appear to be so simple but the reduction of its commission I believe is a major yardstick in determining how much we have progressed as a civilized society.
“It may seems simple, but its significance and expected impact to the society is a lot more profound,” Kazeem said.
Speaking on the importance of the event, the Attorney General said: “This event is even more momentous because It is a symbolic indication of some of the most important policies of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration on law and order which rest on the premise that no society will thrive in an atmosphere of lawlessness and disorder.
“This administration recognize that as Africa’s fastest growing mega city, law and order are critical pillars for sustaining democratic life. The state government has dedicated an enormous amount of manpower and financial resources in seeking better living standard by provision of roads, drainages and transportation system to mention but a few and it has enacted traffic and environmental laws to ensure the state remains environmentally friendly all the time.
“Yet some have chosen or deliberately refused to obey these laws. This is not entirely surprising as the history of mankind as shown that obedience to societal laws has never been entirely voluntary. Therefore, prompt and fair adjudication as well as the certainty of enforcement and penalties constitute the necessary inducement for respect and obedience of laws. For most people, where justice is delayed or denied, the victim is bound to feel some frustration, outrage or even further disrespect for law and order and if the same trend is allowed to take whole the very basis of an orderly society wears out gradually and steadily,” he said.
On her part, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade said with the launch of the Mobile Court, the era of recklessness and lawlessness on Lagos roads were gone for good, as no government would fold its arms and watch the violation of traffic and environmental laws.
Justice Atilade, who lamented the death of a 25-year-old British Nigerian graduate, Doyin Serah Fagbenro who was killed by a reckless Danfo Driver about three weeks ago in Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos, said the story of the victim was just one of the many deaths occurring as a result of reckless driving and indiscipline.
“This must not be allowed to continue. Let it be known to all that the era of recklessness and impunity on our public roads and highways in Lagos State is gone. Those who chose to make life difficult for other people especially on our roads should have a rethink as they will henceforth be held accountable for their deeds,” Justice Atilade warned.
The special Offences court was established in 1994 to try essentially environmental Offences and it has been vested with powers to sit in any convenient place close to the scene of commission of any offence triable by it.
Though summary in nature, the proceedings before the Mobile Court will be operated in according with rules of natural justice and fair hearing.
There will be lawyers from the office of the Public Defender for any defendant who so desires to be defended, while defendants can also appoint any lawyer of their choice to defend them.
Breaking News
LABSCA DEMILITION: Pain and Sorrow Grip Residents as LABSCA Clears Rows of Shops in Lagos Neighborhood
Agony, tears as LABSCA Demolishes Rows of Shops in Lagos Community
Residents of Laurel School Cross, in the Jakande Estate area of Isolo Local Government Area, Lagos State, are calculating their losses after the Lagos State Building Control Agency task team bulldozed rows of lockup stores in their neighborhood.
Many of the affected locals, largely minor traders, described how their harrowing story began in the early afternoon of Wednesday when hundreds of LASBCA task force officials, accompanied by armed security agents, arrived with chainsaws and sledgehammers to demolish businesses and community spaces.
When SteadyGist arrived on Thursday morning, many of the traders appeared traumatized as they attempted to retrieve some of their items and other valuables from the wreckage.
Some of the vendors claimed that they had not received a demolition notice from the authorities.
SteadyGist came across a copy of LABSCA’s demolition notice on their website.
The notice stated that owners/developers of designated structures had been given a seven-day notice to dismantle the structure or face a LABSCA taskforce clampdown.
“UNDERLISTED Distressed Structures in the State shall be removed by Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) having served all the statutory enforcement notices in accordance with the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development (Amendment) Law of 2019 and with no response from the respective Owner/Developer,” the notice stated in part.
“Following the foregoing, a final notice is hereby given that if the under-listed distressed structures are not removed by their respective Owners/Developers within seven days (7) of this notice in accordance with regulatory provisions of the law, such Structure shall be removed.”
Many of the impacted victims who complained to SteadyGist, however, stated that they did not get a Demolition Notice from the agency.
One of the impacted residents, just named as Mrs John, sobbed as her source of income was reduced to rubble in a matter of minutes.
“I’m shocked at how these people (LASBCA and security officers) came in their numbers and suddenly began demolishing our shops,” she stated. They didn’t even bother to notify us. They came here, designated our building, began collecting all of our belongings, and began demolishing all of the shops on Laurel Street.”
“I am a widow, and we have been selling food and supplies here for over ten years.” We are law-abiding folks who have never had a problem with government officials. But look how they’ve treated us; where do I go from here?” Mrs John sobbed.
Another trader, who requested anonymity, expressed disappointment that they had received no communication from LABSCA.
“I had no idea the government could be so cruel to the poor.” We don’t know what we did to deserve this kind of treatment.
“I’ve been doing business here peacefully for many years, and we’ve never received a demolition notice from the Lagos government.” “When they came to destroy our shops, we begged them to give us a few days to move out our goods, but they said they’d been given express orders to destroy our shops,” the woman bemoaned.
In response to the charges, LABSCA spokesman Mrs. Adetayo Asagba informed SteadyGist that the stores were removed because they were erected beneath the estate’s electric cables.
“LABSCA has frequently issued warnings about constructing structures under high tension. So the rows of stores were destroyed because they were erected under high-tension, and they were all illegally built,” she explained.
“The shop occupants were duly served with notices before the demolition began.” Last week, they were served with notices,” Asagba stated.
Coronavirus
āWe may lockdown Lagos again if you donāt change your behaviourā – Lagos State Governor Said
The governor instructs the police to Take Away Bikes from people if they fail to Abide by the rules.
The governor of Lagos state Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said the state government might be forced to announce another lockdown order in the state if citizens do not take responsibility to stop the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
Sanwo-Olu announced this during a live broadcast on Saturday, May 9, 2020.
In a bid to contain the spread of the virus in Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari had twice announced a two-week lockdown in Lagos, Ogun, and the Federal Capital Territory.
The President later extended the lockdown by one week on Monday, April 27, 2020.
We may lockdown Lagos again if citizens don’t change their behaviour and #TakeResponsibility towards stopping the spread of #Covid_19. @jidesanwoolu today during a live broadcast in Lagos. pic.twitter.com/LoMaqTrJgSā Gboyega Akosile (@gboyegaakosile) May 9, 2020
However, since the lockdown order was relaxed on Monday, May 4, 2020, coronavirus cases have been on the rise in the state despite the measures put in place to ease the lockdown order and reduce the spread.
Between Monday, May 4, and Friday, May 9, 2020, Lagos, the epicenter of the pandemic in Nigeria recorded 560 cases of out 1355 new cases announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
Due to the rise in the number of new cases, the Lagos State government has warned that another lockdown order might soon be announced.
Sanwo-Olu during the broadcast on Saturday also lamented that Okada riders openly flouted the ease of lockdown directive, adding that the police have been directed to confiscate bikes of people that are not adhering to the directive.
The governor also said that yellow buses (Danfo) scored below performance in the level of compliance.
He, however, maintained that the state will continue to work with them with the hope that there will be a significant improvement in the next few days.
Coronavirus
COVID-19: Lagos State Governor Sanwo-Olu Declared Compulsory Wearing of Face Masks in Lagos
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor has announced compulsory wearing of masks amid lockdown in the state.
In a series of tweets on Sunday, April 26, 2020, Sanwo-Olu said the wearing of face masks combined with frequent hand washing will slow down the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria.
He also disclosed that the state government is currently producing three million face masks to be distributed to the vulnerable in Lagos.
He tweeted:
Dear Lagosians, even as we observe the lockdown, we are kicking off #MaskUpLagos; the COMPULSORY wearing of face masks in LagosFace masks help to protect us from droplets and secretions from coughing, sneezing etc as not everyone that is infected will show symptoms.#COVID19 pic.twitter.com/H68Md1bzTm
ā Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) April 26, 2020
āDear Lagosians, even as we observe the lockdown, we are kicking off #MaskUpLagos; the COMPULSORY wearing of face masks in Lagos Face masks help to protect us from droplets and secretions from coughing, sneezing etc as not everyone that is infected will show symptoms.
āFace masks, combined with frequent hand washing, being conscious about NOT touching our face, as well as #SocialDistancing, are effective in slowing the spread. The state government is currently producing about 3 million facemasks for distribution to the vulnerableā.
N95 & surgical masks help our medical workers stay safe while cloth masks made to specifications that will be released by @LSMOH combined with other guidelines will help protect our residents from #COVID19 The virus is in our communities, letās take this seriously. #MaskUpLagos.
Lagos is the epicenter of coronavirus in Nigeria with 689 cases out of 1182 in the country.
The state government on Saturday also announced that 19 coronavirus-related deaths have been recorded in the state.
Nigerian govt gives update on national grid collapse
BREAKING: President Tinubu scraps two ministries, merges others
MTN offices besieged as aggrieved subscribers protest over sim blockage
-
Gov. Ambode11 years ago
Lagos commences prosecution of 28 tax defaulters
-
Fashion9 years ago
These ’90s fashion trends are making a comeback in 2017
-
Entertainment9 years ago
The final 6 ‘Game of Thrones’ episodes might feel like a full season
-
Entertainment3 years agoPortable boasts of owning 30 Mansion Across Lagos and Ogun State
-
Fashion9 years ago
According to Dior Couture, this taboo fashion accessory is back
-
Entertainment9 years ago
The old and New Edition cast comes together to perform
-
Sports9 years ago
Phillies’ Aaron Altherr makes mind-boggling barehanded play
-
Ankara5 years ago
50 Best Lace Blouse Styles for Tying Wrappers for 2022