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| News Summary: |
| "The Judiciary who ought to be discouraging the act of striking...this is sooo third world" |
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By Davidson Iriekpen, 04.29.2010
Magistrates in Lagos State under the aegis of Magistrates Association of Nigeria, Lagos Branch, will today begin on a two-week strike to protest the suspension of the Lagos Magistrate Court Law 2009.
Justice Aishat Opesanwo of a Lagos High Court had in a ruling delivered on March 24, suspended the new Magistrate Court Law 2009 and directed that the old Magistrate Court Law 2003 should be the operation magistracy law in the state pending the determination of a suit by a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Jiti Ogunye, challenging the legality of the new law.
The magistrates’ decision to embark on strike was reached at an emergency meeting of its association at Yaba Magistrate’s Court in Lagos yesterday.
THISDAY gathered that the decision of the magistrates to embark on the strike action might not be unconnected with a circular sent to them by the Chief Registrar of Lagos High Court, Mrs. Lateefat Folami, directing them to adhere strictly by the judgement of the court.
The circular dated March 30, had stated that the operating law should be the old law.
The letter reads in part, “I am directed by the Chief Judge, Justice Inumidun Akande, to refer your honours to the subject matter challenging the magistrate law. For avoidance of doubt, the effect of the ruling of the court is that pending the final determination of the case, the operative law for the Magistrate Court shall be the Magistrate’s Court Law Cap MI Laws of Lagos State 2003."
But the association had also written a letter to the CJ, intimating her of its decision to begin strike over the suspension of the new law and the issues of welfare, security and working conditions of its members.
The letter was also copied to Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN), the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Supo Shasore (SAN); the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Ikuforiji Adeyemi and the Executive Secretary. Judicial Service Commission.
A copy of the letter dated April 28 was made available to our correspondent in Lagos.
The letter reads in part, “We have complied till date with the directive of the CJ. However in the course of compliance, we are experiencing difficulties in relation to our jurisdiction and the propriety of reverting to a repealed law.
“Our courts are being bombarded daily with applications challenging our jurisdiction in this regard. In that vain, we the magistrates of Lagos State unanimously resolved to embark on a Work to Rule with effect from Thursday, April 29, 2010 for a period of two weeks at first instance.” |
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