In a bid to ensure quick dispensation of justice as well as easy access to justice the Lagos State Government through the State Ministry of Justice in partnership with LawPavilion business solutions, a technology solutions provider engaged in the business of publishing judicial authorities, cases and laws has announced the Lagos State E-laws platform.
The E-laws of Lagos State is an electronic library of the laws and annotated law of the state. This is the first electronic collection of a state law in the country.
In his welcome address at the presentation on Wednesday at the Ministry’s conference room, the Lagos State Attorney-general and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo noted that since the commencement of the present administration, the justice sector in Lagos State has experienced the implementation of programmes aimed at giving the people of Lagos greater access to justice through dynamic law reforms and adherence to the rule of law.
Onigbanjo stated that the importance of creating awareness of the laws passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly cannot be over emphasised hence the partnership between the Ministry of Justice and LawPavilion to publish the laws of the state in electronic format for easy access.
“The State in its bid for continued effective and efficient administration of justice, through the Law Reform Commission, an agency of Government charged with the responsibility of publishing the laws of Lagos state and other state legislations in electronic and print copies enters into an agreement with LawPavilion Business Solutions”
The agreement according to the attorney general is for annotation of the laws of Lagos State and conversion of the laws on agreed texts and format for publication on the LawPavilion electronic platform.
The attorney general noted that one of the advantages of the initiative is that the e-publishing of the laws will provide ease of doing business as investors and other interested persons will now have access to all the laws to Lagos State at a glance while reducing the difficulties that are often associated with physical purchase of law and the wear and tear associated with the hard copies.
“This means that the annotated laws of Lagos State are available to the public and particularly to lawyers all over the world, I therefore welcome you to a world of easy access to the robust laws of Lagos State”.
The Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Titilayo Shitta-Bey in her address thanked the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his support towards easy access to justice and quick dispensation of justice.
She noted this couldn’t have been achieved without the support of Mr. Governor while thanking the law reform commission for a thorough job while noting that the E-law of Lagos State will in no small measure bring the administration of Justice in Lagos State in line with international best practices, which encourages technology as a major driver of legal initiatives.
The Managing Director, LawPavillion, Mr. Ope Olugasa noted that it is an epoch-making event stating that it is the first of its kind by any state in Nigeria. He stated that the initiative is in line with the current reality of the new normal.
Olugasa further noted that the E-law will make it easy for judges and legal practitioners to have access to the complete and updated law of Lagos State. He stated that those who want access to the laws have the option of either an outright purchase for a token of the entire laws or an annual subscription through the LawPavillion platform.