In a move to ensure that the state government is properly represented in all legal matters, the Edo State Attorney-General, Dr Samson Osagie, has announced the creation of a committee tasked with tracking court cases handed over to private legal practitioners. This initiative comes in response to growing concerns over the lack of oversight in cases being handled outside the state, some of which have led to embarrassing legal judgements against the government.
Dr Osagie revealed this new committee during a recent meeting with journalists in Benin. He explained that the committee’s main objective is to monitor both civil and criminal cases, particularly those in which the state government has engaged private lawyers to represent it.
Ensuring Accountability in Legal Representation
The committee will be led by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Mrs O. Aigbavboa, and its role is to track the progress of all cases assigned to external lawyers. Dr Osagie highlighted the importance of ensuring that the Edo State Government is never caught off-guard by court rulings in cases where it is the defendant, especially in situations where the state is not properly represented.
“We set up this committee to ensure that we fully understand the status and nature of all cases that have been given to private lawyers,” Dr Osagie explained. “We don’t want to find ourselves in situations where the state is not represented in court, and judgments are passed against us without our knowledge.”
This move follows a troubling discovery that many cases, particularly those outside Edo State, were being handled by private lawyers without the Ministry of Justice receiving regular updates on their progress. Some of these cases were even listed in courts, with the Edo State Government named as a defendant, despite the state having no representation at the hearings.
“We were shocked to find that cases were being prosecuted or defended on behalf of the state, without us having any feedback or understanding of where the cases stood,” said Dr Osagie. “In some instances, cases were listed in courts outside the state, and yet, there was no sign of a lawyer representing the government.”
The Committee’s Mandate and Goals
The committee’s primary goal is to ensure that the government is fully informed of the legal status of all cases in which it is involved. According to Dr Osagie, it is vital that the Ministry of Justice is kept in the loop to avoid situations where the state could be unprepared for unfavourable rulings.
“The most disturbing part of this issue is that we discovered that cases involving the Edo State Government, particularly in courts in Abuja and other locations, were either not being prosecuted at all or not being followed up diligently,” Dr Osagie said. “This could lead to situations where the government is blindsided by judgements it was not in a position to defend.”
The committee will review the cases that have been outsourced to private lawyers, assess their progress, and identify any that are not being actively pursued. If any cases are found to have been neglected or abandoned, the committee will take action to remove them from the hands of the private lawyers involved and either assign them to state counsel or to a different private lawyer who will ensure they are properly prosecuted.
Dr Osagie made it clear that the state would not allow cases to be mishandled. “We don’t want to risk any more embarrassing court judgements against the government,” he said. “If we find cases that are being neglected or abandoned, we will take immediate action to have them reassigned to a more diligent lawyer.”
Addressing Concerns Over Legal Outsourcing
The decision to set up this committee also stems from the need for greater accountability and oversight over the private legal practitioners employed by the state. Dr Osagie explained that while outsourcing legal work to private lawyers can be beneficial in some instances, it is crucial that the state maintains full oversight to ensure cases are being handled properly.
“It’s important to note that outsourcing legal work is not inherently wrong,” Dr Osagie said. “However, it’s vital that we have mechanisms in place to ensure that these lawyers are doing their jobs and that the government is not left exposed in legal matters.”
The Attorney-General also emphasized that the new committee would not undermine the work of the private lawyers already handling cases for the state. Instead, the goal is to provide a system of checks and balances to ensure that cases are being diligently prosecuted. “If a private lawyer is doing their job well, we will have no problem with them continuing to handle the case,” he said. “But if we find that the lawyer is not fulfilling their obligations, we will step in to protect the interests of the government.”
As the committee begins its work, Dr Osagie is hopeful that it will address the ongoing challenges facing the state’s legal system. “We want to ensure that the Edo State Government is never caught off guard by a court ruling,” he said. “This committee will provide us with the oversight and accountability we need to make sure that all our legal cases are properly handled.”
The committee is expected to provide regular updates on the status of cases, and Dr Osagie has pledged to take swift action if any issues are identified. “We are committed to ensuring that all legal matters involving the state are handled professionally and diligently,” he concluded.
