Lagos’ Special Corruption and Sexual Offences Courts

Across the globe, especially in the developed world, the idea of specialised courts has proven to enhance the performances of their judicial processes and this has made these countries reference points for quick dispensation of justice, fairness and functional legal systems. Indonesia and Malaysia provide interesting case study on this; they established constitutional courts, administrative courts, commercial courts, land courts, fisheries courts and tax courts.

The recent disclosure by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke that over 50 per cent of cases in Nigeria courts today majorly borders on corrupt practices and sexual abuses is not only shocking but calls for a more strategic approach to reverse the status quo. While the volumes of court cases continue to increase on a daily basis, the numbers of available judges to preside over these litigations remain grossly inadequate; in fact the few judges are sometimes confronted with the challenge of administering cases that do not fall within their core scope of jurisdiction in the absence of a specialist jurist. The challenges posed by these developments are multifaceted, ranging from skyrocketing court cases, non-appearances by litigants, unavailability of witnesses, inadequate judges, ceaseless adjournments and many more.

Unlike other legal issues, the incidences of sexual abuses are such that require speedy judgment considering their vicious effect and irreparable emotional damage on survivors and the possibility of grooming more potential abusers if stringent punishment are not meted out to the perpetrators to serve as deterrent to others in a swift and appropriate manner.

In the same vein, the issue of corruption is also another monster that has left the country in a state of perpetual underdevelopment up till now. One cannot dispute the fact that if the war against corruption is won, so many other things will start falling in their rightful places for all Nigerians.

Demonstrating its resolve to signal a tougher warning to individuals and master minds of sexual abuses and corrupt practices, Lagos State Government recently inaugurated a Special/Sexual Offences Court to solely administer corrupt cases and sexual related issues. In addition to this, core professional lawyers on issues relating to sexual abuses and corrupt practices have been designated to preside over cases in these courts.

According to statistics, there are over 500 cases of financial crime pending before the High Court, the bulk of which have now been assigned to the Special Offences Courts. The initiative of the special courts will make it possible for other regular courts in the state to concentrate on other legal issues and will also aid quick dispensation of justice in these courts.

In an article titled ‘A Five -Year Analysis of Police Records on Sexual Related Offences in Lagos State,” the study documented the sexual offences reported at the Metropolitan Lagos State Police Commands from 1999 to 2004. It was stated that a total of 691 sexual offences were reported during the period.

Although there are legislative instruments to combat the menace of domestic/sexual violence, they have become almost ineffective in curbing the rising tide of sexual assault. In Lagos alone, the number of reported cases of sexual offences has increased significantly, at present, there are about 600 pending sexual offences cases in the high courts and this do not include those filed in the magistrates courts. Several amendments have been made under the existing Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 which was borne out of the understanding of the lawmakers that sexual attack in recent time is becoming rampant and more perverse. One of such amendments is the provision of life imprisonment for sexual abuse or defilement of a child and the removal of the clause that a person could not be convicted for the offence of sexual abuse or its attempt upon uncorroborated testimony of one witness.

Another boost for the war against sexual abuses and corrupt practices in Lagos State is the already existing DNA Forensic Lab whereas issues of denial or lack of scientific evidences which had in past paralysed the efforts of the law to determine who a real sexual offender is and subsequently bring the person to book would no longer impede effective delivery of justice.

In addition to this, the Lagos State Government also operates a mobile court where some minor cases are tried swiftly. Lagos has a special task force for land matters, the Citizens Mediation Centre, and the Public Advice Centre, among several others.

Adekunbi Bakare, Public Affairs Officer, Lagos State Judiciary, Ikeja, Lagos