The Administrative Judge of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Justice Olayinka Faji on Monday said that before the end of the year, the newly built Federal High Court will start operating.

He said that there are at least four courtrooms that have been retrofitted and it will start operating in the new building. Because those are the four courts that have been completed with the state of the art.

The judge stated this while speaking on a topic in the plenary session “The Globalized Economy and the Integration of the Nigerian Judicial System”, during the Lagos Law Week, event held at the Law School Victoria Island.

Justice Faji said,” I have seen the courtrooms, my chief judge has seen the courtrooms and he has been assured by those building it that it will be ready before the end of the year. I don’t want to say before September, but I know that before the end of the year.

“We’ve had challenges; funding is a basic problem probably because as somebody has said here, the government itself doesn’t see the judiciary as an arm of government and all the things that happen with budgeting also affect the judiciary.

“All the issues at the National Assembly also affect the judiciary”, he said.

Justice Faji also stated that the judiciary must rise above the local challenges and consider the legal global technology and how it can enhance the judicial system in the country.

Speaking on enhancing the practice within the court system he said,” They can make use of artificial intelligence that will guide non lawyers and litigants to know the strength of their cases and to know how to proceed.

Infrastructure is a basic issue we really need to work on that, including electricity, and internet connectivity.

“I’m looking at the ideals and how we can work with them. One basic challenge is the infrastructure, another is knowledge one other challenge is the reluctance of lawyers to accept to change. Lawyers are very slow in accepting change, they see the court as a place and not as a service. The court is a service.”

“I think the way to go is digital and I also think that there is a lot to be done as a whole. The legal profession needs to regulate itself, judges must be bold to impose costs.

Also speaking Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye said that as far back as 2004, the Lagos judiciary has been trying to integrate e-filing and still is not working at the optimal level.

She,”If the truth must be told standards are falling on the Bar and the Bench, we need to pay attention to the kind of curriculum our new lawyers are being taught at the law school so that they can be very versatile. “

Earlier in his keynote address, the chief executive officer of Access Holdings Plc, Mr Herbert Wigwe, said that the current era of globalisation should not have come as a surprise to anyone.

it did not happen overnight. in fact, the signs began to point in this direction 263 years ago…to be precise. in 1760, Europe was undergoing many changes but the change relevant to my topic today is the beginning of the industrial revolution that set us on the path towards achieving a worldwide economy.

Speaking on “what are the implications for the law in a globalised economy”, Wigwe said that there is no single industry that has been unaffected by globalisation and there is not a single industry not grappling with the same challenges.

Wigwe who was represented by Mr Amachi Okoye stated that they in banking and finance, constantly ask the same question.

“We ask,“what are the implications for banking in a globalised economy?” for banks, globalized economy opens new market opportunities. banks can expand their customer base across borders and diversify their revenue streams,thereby reduce reliance on specific domestic markets.

“Globalization fosters increased cross-border transactions, trade, and investment flows. banks can tap into international capital markets for funding and expansion. coupled with technological advancements, globalization has accelerated digital transformation in banking however, the challenges include navigation of complex regulations and compliance with international standards.,” he said.

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