The Lagos Mobile courts were busy at different locations in the metropolis Monday trying suspects arrested for different offences bordering on traffic and environmental offences.

At Ikeja, the Court under magistrate Nurudeen Layeni convicted 15 offenders, 12 were arrested for street trading and were fined N3000 each or 1 month imprisonment while two others were convicted for street fighting that could lead to breach of peace contrary to section 166 (1) h and punishable under section 166 (2) of criminal law of Lagos State and they were given four hours community service as punishment. One tricycle arrested was however, discharged and acquitted.

At Obalende under Magistrate Patrick Nwaka, it convicted five people who were fined N1000 each for unlawful parking even as each driver presented tickets issued to them by the Local Government, four commercial bus drivers were convicted for dropping and picking passengers from unauthorized bus stops and were fined N20,000 each or six months imprisonment. One person was convicted and given one hour community service for hanging on the door of a commercial bus.

Under Magistrate Olalekan Aka-Bashorun conducting trial at Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, 10 people were arrested for obstructing traffic by crossing highways; they were however set free with warning not to cross the highway again. Five street traders were convicted and fined N5000 each. 10 were convicted for street trading.

From last week till Monday, the Public Relations Officer of the Task Force, Taofiq Adebayo said the Task Force impounded 113 motorcycles, charged 199 out of 239 arrested miscreants while 31 were screened out.

Twenty-five (25) commercial and private vehicles were arrested and issued tickets for various traffic offenses.

It would be recalled that the Lagos State Government on Friday, the 5^th of February 2016 inaugurated the Special Offences (Mobile) Court to summarily deal with growing cases of traffic and environmental abuses in the state with a view to bringing sanity and civility in the conduct of residents.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem had said that the launch of the Mobile Court, was one of the ways through which the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode aims to broaden the pathway that guaranty citizens’ access to justice and at the same time ensure the preservation of civility in the society.

He said the development was an institutional reaction to identified societal challenges, and that henceforth traffic offenders such as motorcyclists who drive against traffic and refused to obey traffic signs like zebra crossing and traffic light indication, would no longer find it easy to get away with commission of such crimes in the state. He also said commercial bus drivers popularly known as Danfo Drivers on motion with their doors open thereby endangering lives of those of their passengers and other road users, would equally be prosecuted before the Mobile Court, while anyone crossing the highway where pedestrian bridges are provided, would equally face trial.

Kazeem, who disclosed that henceforth driving on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes of non-designated vehicles by anyone including military personnel, would attract prosecution before the Mobile Court, also warned people to desist from parking at undesignated places and indulging in noise pollution and street trading among others, saying such offences would be handled by the court.

He added: “These set of offences appear to be so simple but the reduction of its commission I believe is a major yardstick in determining how much we have progressed as a civilized society.

“It may seem simple, but its significance and expected impact to the society is a lot more profound,” Kazeem said.

Speaking also on the importance of the event, the Attorney General stated that: “This event is even more momentous because It is a symbolic indication of some of the most important policies of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration on law and order which rest on the premise that no society will thrive in an atmosphere of lawlessness and disorder.

“This administration recognizes that as Africa’s fastest growing mega city, law and order are critical pillars for sustaining democratic life. The state government has dedicated an enormous amount of manpower and financial resources in seeking better living standard by provision of roads, drainages and transportation system to mention but a few and it has enacted traffic and environmental laws to ensure the state remains environmentally friendly all the time.

“Yet some have chosen or deliberately refused to obey these laws. This is not entirely surprising as the history of mankind as shown that obedience to societal laws has never been entirely voluntary. Therefore, prompt and fair adjudication as well as the certainty of enforcement and penalties constitute the necessary inducement for respect and obedience of laws. For most people, where justice is delayed or denied, the victim is bound to feel some frustration, outrage or even further disrespect for law and order and if the same trend is allowed to take whole the very basis of an orderly society wears out gradually and steadily,” he said.

On her part, the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade said with the launch of the Mobile Court, the era of recklessness and lawlessness on Lagos roads were gone for good, as no government would fold its arms and watch the violation of traffic and environmental laws:

The special Offences court was established in 1994 to try essentially environmental Offences and it has been vested with powers to sit in any convenient place close to the scene of commission of any offence triable by it. Though summary in nature, the proceedings before the Mobile Court will be operated in according with rules of natural justice and fair hearing. There will be lawyers from the office of the Public Defender for any defendant who so desires to be defended, while defendants can also appoint any lawyer of their choice to defend them.

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