Soyinka Heads Lagos @ 50 Celebration Committee

In preparation for the Golden Jubilee of Lagos State next year,  Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, has appointed Nobel laureate, Prof Wole Soyinka and Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi as Co-Chairmen of the Lagos at 50 Planning Committee.

Prof Wole Soyinka

Included in the committee are Hon. Habeeb Fasinro, Chief Olawale Cole, Mrs. Sarah Boulos, Mr. Abimbola Obafunwa, Prof Senapon Bakare, Mrs. Chika Balogun, Mr. Folarin Coker, Prof. Ademola Abass, Bolanle Austen Peter and Mrs Olufunmilayo Balogun as secretary.

   Lagos State was created on May 27, 1967 by the State Creation and Transitional Provisions Decree No. 14 of 1967, which restructured Nigeria into 12 states.

  During the inauguration of the committee at Lagos House, Ikeja, Ambode expressed confidence in their ability. “Lagos State will be 50 years next year. 50 years is a significant landmark in the life of any individual, institution or state. For Lagos State, it has been an eventful 50 years which deserves to be fittingly celebrated.

 “Lagos is a land of opportunities, offering all residents the chance to succeed in their vocations and endeavours. Lagos provides jobs to more people than any other state in sub-Saharan Africa. Lagos is that place where you have a chance to make it if you work hard.

“Indeed, Lagos State has justified its creation. Apart from being the pacesetter and first among equals in the comity of states in the Nigerian federation, Lagos State also occupies a noticeable position in global affairs especially as the fastest growing mega city in the world.

“With all these in mind, it is imperative that we celebrate Lagos at 50. In celebrating Lagos, we must showcase our cultural heritage. We must celebrate the language, arts, sights and sounds of Lagos. Celebrating Lagos is to celebrate Nigerian unity and progress because Lagos provides the cohesion that keeps Nigeria together.

Lagos Mobile Courts Convict Over 40 offenders

In the last few days, the newly-inaugurated Lagos State Mobile Courts have sprung into action and operatewd in some parts of the state where many offenders were arrested and prosecuted.

 

A Unit of the Lagos Mobile Court during operation.

 

On Thursday, along Lagos-Abeokuta Expresway, specifically, Ikeja Along Bus Stop, a unit of the mobile court prosecuted pedestrians who did not use the bridge as well as motorists who were caught driving against traffic. Also, on Wednesday the courts convicted 41, out of 52 prosecuted traffic and environmental offenders.

  The Lagos State Government inaugurated the Special Offences (Mobile) Courts  on 5 February, 2016, with mandate to return sanity to Lagos roads.

  According to the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit (Task Force), 14 people were arrested within Agege, 22 from Oshodi and 16 at areas in Apapa, totalling 52 offenders in all.

A statement by Public Affairs Officer of the Task Force, Mr Adebayo Taofiq, indicated that the mobile courts, which held at open spots at Apapa, Oshodi and Agege Local Government Areas, involved magistrates, lawyers, representatives from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), registrars, cashiers, policemen and towing vehicles.

“Two motorcyclists and four tricycle revenue collectors that were also prosecuted, had their cases struck out for lack of proper documentary evidence.

“Trial in the cases of the remaining five tricycle operators have been adjourned till Thursday, Feb. 11.

“The adjournment was to enable prosecuting counsel, Mr Jimoh Quadri, produce and tender videos and pictures of exact location of arrest from Mr Wilson Alaba, the police officer who Led the operations from the Lagos State Task Force, as evidence to guide the court’s proceedings,’’ The Task Force explained..

  From the 52 prosecutions, 41 were convicted for offences punishable under Section 10 (1) (a) Street Trading and Illegal Markets Prohibition Law of 2003, and were made to pay various fines as options to terms of three to six months imprisonment.

  Magistrates on duty during the mobile courts operations included Mr Nurudeen Layeni (Agege Local Government), Mr Olalekan Aka-Bashorun (Apapa Local Government) and Mr Patrick Nwaka (Oshodi Local Government).

It said that with the commencement of prosecution by the mobile courts, there would be sanity in the system as drivers and riders, including other members of the public, were now expected to comport themselves.

Environmental Laws.

Lagos launches mobile courts to try traffic offenders

 Yesterday, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, launched mobile courts to  try traffic offenders and convict them when necessary. 

Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade (midle) launching the mobile courts

 
Atilade assured that the end is here for “the era of recklessness and impunity on our public roads and highways.”
Recalled that few weeks ago, the Chief Executive Officer of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Chris Olakpe has disclosed that the state government was considering setting up a special mobile court to punish traffic offenders and strengthen traffic regulation in the state.

Atilade lamented that rude motorists commits manslaughters daily on the roads, killing innocent citizens were hardly punished. She cited example of the death of a 25-year-old British Nigerian graduate, Doyin Fagbenro, who was killed by a reckless commercial bus driver about three weeks ago in Lekki-Ajah area of Lagos.
Atilade said: “Those who chose to make life difficult for other people, especially on our roads, should have a re-think, as they would henceforth be held accountable for their deeds.
“Flagrant disregard or violation of traffic rules with impunity is unacceptable and as such, must be discouraged and condemned by all.
“You see them break traffic rules at will and cause needless traffic snag on our roads. They also, most often, drove against traffic and beat the traffic lights, destroy traffic furniture and infrastructure, drive across the road median and through their lawlessness and irresponsible actions, daily inflict pains, grieve and sorrow on fellow citizens.
“Businesses are impeded, as several productive hours are unnecessarily lost in traffic, mostly due to acts of indiscipline by few recalcitrant and obstinate drivers and road users, who are laws unto themselves. As we speak, many have been sent to early graves, while several others are either maimed or lying critically ill in the hospital.
“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.”
Meanwhile Olakpe had said the government was planning to recruit, at least 1,300 persons into the traffic management agency.  Olakpe said: “We are asking the government to establish a mobile court to try erring drivers and ensure that they bear the consequence of driving against traffic or causing obstruction or using the BRT lanes.”