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Lagos CJ advocates end to dichotomy in jurisdiction of courts
Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Justice Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) on Wednesday stressed the need for the country to end dichotomy in jurisdiction of the state High Courts, Federal and National Industrial Courts.
This, he said, would help expand the frontiers of justice in Nigeria.
Onigbanjo made the remark in Ibadan at the opening of the 2022 Law Week of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ibadan branch, with the theme ‘Expanding The Frontiers’.
Onigbanjo said the scope of Jurisdiction of the State High Court as provided in the 1979 Constitution should be restored.
“The State High Court should enjoy unlimited jurisdiction except those jurisdictions conferred on the Federal High Court.
“The jurisdiction of the Federal High Court as provided in Section 230 of the 1979 Constitution should be restored too.
“The jurisdiction as presently conferred on the Federal High Court by Section 251 of the Constitution is too expansive and all-embracing.
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“A drastic reduction in the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court will promote quick dispensation of justice and indeed expand the frontiers of justice in Nigeria.
“In the same vein, the jurisdiction of the National Industrial Court should be limited to matters of collective labour relations, collective bargaining and resolution of trade disputes,” he said.
The CJ also remarked that appointment, remuneration and discipline of judges of the state high court should be exclusively the responsibility of each state.
According to him, the functions conferred on the National Judicial Council with respect to state high court Judges should be part of the judicial powers of the states which should be carried out by the State Judicial Service Commission.
For justice to work efficiently, Onigbanjo said the responsibility lies on the bar and the bench.
“This is because we are all equal partners in the process of ensuring that justice is served in a manner that will foster growth and development,” he said.
