Judges, Magistrates Brainstorm on Role of Family Courts in Justice Administration
Judges and Magistrates of the Family Courts across the country gathered in Lagos last week, to critically appraise the impact and role of family courts in the administration of justice in Nigeria.
The event tagged 'National Conference of Family Court Judges and Magistrates', was organised by the Lagos State Judiciary in partnership with UNICEF.
The 3-day inaugural conference held at Golden Tulip Hotel, FESTAC Town, with the theme 'A Critical Appraisal of the Impact and Role of Family Courts in the Administration of Justice in Nigeria' was declared open by Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who observed that Incidences of divorce and judicial separation, has rendered not less than ten million Nigerian children homeless and exposed to various social vices.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule, challenged participants at the conference to look at the provisions of the Matrimonial Causes Act and align it with that of the Child Rights Law, while adjudicating on cases bordering on divorce and judicial separation.
He said that this has become necessary, because cases of divorce and judicial separation are impacting negatively on the children and may expose them to abuse and neglect which may hinder their effective development in the society.
While decrying the rise in domestic and sexual violence against children, Ambode charged the conference to examine the trend with provisions of the law and proffer solutions that would ameliorate the situation.
“Our administration strongly believes in the Child Rights Law and its provisions because as parents and custodians, we have an inalienable responsibility to ensure that no child is unduly deprived of the basic necessities of life, including the right to a family name, love, education, shelter and healthcare”, he said.
In her welcome address, Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, also decried the increasing spate of child molestation, juvenile delinquency, pedophilia, rape and domestic violence in the Nigerian society, in spite of sustained advocacy and relevant legislations that are aimed at curtailing the occurrence of the vice and related crimes.
Atilade said that the concern of the judiciary for the sanctity of the family institution is informed by the need to further preserve and ensure the protection of its members, especially women and children, through appropriate legal framework and incisive judicial process at high courts and magisterial levels.
According to the Chief Judge, this ugly development informed the need for the conference and choice of the theme, which she contended is critical and germane to addressing issues confronting the family and the larger society.
She stressed the need for participants at the conference to jointly undertake a review of the extant rules, legislations and judicial process, with a view to proffering practical solutions and chart a new course for family matters in line with global best practice.
The State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, in his remarks also condemned domestic and sexual violence and child abuse, and urged the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT) not to relent in the task of ridding the society of the vice.
“We must send a message to those who abuse our women and children, that Lagos State Government has zero tolerance for such perpetrators", he added.
Kazeem charged participants at the conference to focus on asset distribution between estranged husband and wife in divorce and judicial separation cases, in a way that would be beneficial to the children to preserve family values.
In a keynote address, Head of the Family Court, Lagos High Court, Justice Yetunde Idowu decried that, in spite of the achievement recorded in the State on child rights and protection of family values, there are still cases of children hawking and begging on the streets of major cities, when they should be in schools.
Justice Idowu said the State Government has set up special courts, policies and programmes to cater for and protect children in need of care and protection.
“It is now a crime in our state to abuse and violently punish children. Laws have been created to address domestic violence, child labour, mental and sexual abuse, child abduction and trafficking, betrothals and marriage of children, and calling and labeling a child a witch or wizard”, she said.
Other topics deliberated upon at the conference include, The Role of Government in the Family Justice System: the Future and Challenges Confronting the System in Nigeria, Child Marriage and the Need to Adopt the Child Rights’ Act 2003, The Need for Professionalism in Social Work in Nigeria, Protecting Children and Vulnerable in the Family Court and Crimes of Passion: Homicide, Domestic Violence and Rape.