To create a fair and equitable world, a good justice delivery service that would accommodate quick dispensation of Justice and provide an unhindered access to Justice is of utmost importance.

The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu made this submission at the 11^th public lecture of the Ogun State Bar and Bench Forum held at the Judiciary Complex, Kobape in Abeokuta.

Speaking on the theme of the public lecture, “THE ROLE OF THE SPECIALISED TIERS OF COURT IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN NIGERIA” Hon. Justice Dipeolu reiterates that Small Claim Courts designed for liquidated monetary claims and the Family Court, among others which are sustaining efficiency and effectiveness in justice delivery have been established across the Magisterial Districts of the Ogun State Judiciary.

“The system of Justice does not need to be unnecessarily clogged, it must be free and fast, approachable and efficient”, the Chief Judge added

In his remarks, the Lagos State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba who also chaired the session, postulated that in order to have expeditious hearings of cases before honourable Judges and Magistrates there is need for training and retraining on such set of specialised cases.

“We cannot gainsay the necessity and usefulness of having specialized courts, it allows for a Judge to be con-consistent, experienced, exposed and faster with dealing with same set of cases from time to time”, Alogba stated

The guest lecturer, Mr Kunle Ogunba (SAN) in his presentation on “The Role of the specialised tiers of court in the administration of Justice in Nigeria” submitted that, Judiciary can only unlock its potentials and make Justice readily available to the common man and the society at large through financial autonomy

“I share the sentiment that our Judiciary ought to be fortified from any likelihood of political patronage, and this can only be done by the implementation of their constitutional entitlements before our Judiciary can properly realize Judicial policies such as specialization, all in the interest of a better administration of justice.”, Ogunba stated

He further said “it would be most expedient and in the interest of democracy to rid the Judiciary of any element which the political or executive class can use to mount pressure on it including financial independence”.

The paper discussant, Hon. Justice Sonia Akinbiyi emphasised that specialised Courts are good innovations to decongest the regular court and guarantee speedy and qualitative Justice.

Hon. Justice Akinbiyi pointed out that the shortcomings of specialised courts in Ogun state and Nigeria include, seeking budgetary provisions and funds to discharge adjudicatory services from the executive arm of government, which His Lordship considered as inimical to the Judiciary generally

Justice Akinbiyi also identified a tenured system in the Justice system which erases the value of deep commitment in the discharge of judicial function as a weakness to the system.

Other shortcomings of the specialised court, according to Hon. Justice Akinbiyi include specialised court relying on the appellate structure in the Judiciary for redress where litigants are dissatisfied with their decision and Judgements.

His Lordship hereby recommended that the courts be harnessed and integrated into the Judiciary, put under the supervision of the National Judicial Council to remove the existing clogs in the operation and enhance its effectiveness and efficiency.

“Judiciary should supervise the funding of all specialised court by carrying out adjudicatory services to prevent undue interference of the executive arm of government in Justice dispensation in the Specialised Courts”, Justice Akinbiyi submitted

His Lordship applauded the gigantic step by the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu for ensuring an approval for the establishment of the Customary Court of Appeal in the State which has assisted in the decongestion of the High Court.