A Communique Arising from the General Meeting of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA Lagos Branch Held, on the 26th of October, 2020
PREAMBLE
The Branch held its monthly meeting on Monday the 26th day of October 2020. During the course of the meeting, the Chairman informed members that, in the immediate aftermath of the shooting incident that occurred at the Lekki Toll Gate on 20th October 2020 arising from the ENDSARS protests, hoodlums invaded the premises of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, the High Court of Lagos State and the Magistrates’ Court all situated at Igbosere, Lagos on 21st October 2020.
The Chairman further informed members that not only did these hoodlums vandalize the premises of these three courts and make away with valuable items, but that in addition, they set the premises of the High Court and the Magistrates’ Court on fire, causing extensive damage to the physical infrastructure of these courts as well as their records.
Upon extensive deliberations on these issues with the aim of agreeing on what role the Branch should play in addressing the impact of these dastardly acts, the meeting resolved as follows:
1. That the Judicial Relations Committee of the Branch (“the Committee”) should communicate with the President of the Court of Appeal, the Presiding Justice of the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal and the Chief Judge of Lagos State to commiserate with them on these events and seek audience with them to discuss short and long term measures that can be put in place to address the challenges presented to the administration of justice as a result of these unfortunate occurrences at the premises of the courts;
2. That the Committee should on behalf of the Branch and to the greatest extent possible offer to assist the Judiciary in ascertaining the extent of the loss and damage to the courts’ records that had taken place and seek to agree a template with the courts, that would be used in reconstructing case files and court records, where they have been lost or damaged;
3. That the Committee should advocate the speedy restoration of judicial activity in the affected courts and collaborate with the Judiciary in identifying possible options for use as interim courtrooms;
4. That the Committee should assist the courts with developing and implementing a template to fully digitize the process of reconstructing the courts’ records and operating systems with necessary back-ups in place, in order to avoid a repeat of the current situation.
CONCLUSION
The Branch affirmed its commitment to doing all that is within its powers to assist with the reconstruction of the records and infrastructure of the courts and to create a platform that would enable members of the Branch to make financial contributions towards the rebuilding of the courts.
Yemi Akangbe, FCIArb.
NBA Lagos, Chairman
