The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has decried the invasion of her court by thieves in Abeokuta and stealing of valuable digital equipment for court use
Dipeolu alleged that the thieves had carted away some equipment procured by Governor Dapo Abiodun for virtual court sittings.
She said the stealing of the equipment brought about the delay in the digitisation of the state judiciary.
Speaking at the launch of an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) tool for judges to aid quick dispensation of justice in Ogun, the Chief Judge said Ogun had begun the partial digitisation of judicial processes during the COVID-19 lockdown through the adoption of virtual sittings for court proceedings.
Dipeolu explained that the stolen equipment was purchased by Abiodun in his efforts to fully digitise the judicial system in Ogun with data-driven technology-based initiatives.
The Chief Judge who did not give the details of the stolen equipment said the digitisation of the judiciary would not be achievable until full autonomy is given to the judiciary.
Dipeolu said, “In the year 2020, after the relaxation of lockdown, I issued practice directions one and two of 2020 on virtual sitting to reduce to the barest minimum interaction with people generally as the situation demanded.
“In a bid to aid this, the state governor, Dapo Abiodun approved and provided equipment in my court again as a pilot scheme for virtual sitting.
“However, sometimes ago, thieves broke into my court and stole the equipment, since then I have also been using my laptop to conduct virtual sittings.”
The Chief Judge disclosed that the only challenge hindering the execution of full digitisation is the provision of an internet facility.