The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, has called on Magistrates in Nigeria to invest consistently in self-development.
Justice Dipeolu also urged the magistrates to read judgments of superior courts, keep abreast of legislative developments, improve legal research and judgment-writing, and participate in continuing judicial education.
She equally cautioned magistrates against treating their present office as a mere waiting room for elevation to the High Court Bench, declaring that the Magistracy is an office of considerable responsibility in its own right.
The Ogun Chief Judge, who made this call on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the National Convention of the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria, held at the Ceremonial Court, Judiciary Complex, Kobape Road, Abeokuta.
She noted that Ogun State has maintained its annual Magistrates’ Conference without interruption since 1976, holding 45 editions
The Convention, themed ‘Strengthening the Magistracy for Effective Justice Delivery through Capacity Building and Innovation’ and tagged ‘Gateway Convention 2026 ‘, was scheduled between 19th and 22nd of October, 2026.
It is the first national gathering of the association in 10 years since the 2016 convention in Rivers State, and is expected to elect a new National Executive Committee to restore democratic continuity.
Speaking as both Chief Judge and former Magistrate, Justice Dipeolu said she understands the demands of determining rights and liberties and the aspirations for career progression, but urged magistrates not to allow uncertainty about future appointments to diminish quality of service.
She charged every magistrate to invest consistently in self-development, read judgments of superior courts, keep abreast of legislative developments, improve legal research and judgment-writing and participate in continuing judicial education, noting that Ogun State has maintained its annual Magistrates Conference without interruption since 1976, holding 45 editions.
On innovation and technology, the Chief Judge said electronic transactions, cybercrime, online fraud, electronically stored records and Artificial Intelligence now present questions for judicial determination, and urged magistrates to embrace e-filing, digital case management and virtual proceedings where permitted, stressing that technology must serve justice, not compromise fair hearing and judicial independence.
Delivering his keynote paper entitled ‘The Future of the Nigerian Magistracy in an Evolving Justice Sector,’ Sola Ojutalayo described the Magistrate as “the Gateway of the Justice Process within this chain which occupies a unique position, because he is usually the first justice dispensing officer to review what the police and prosecution have done”.
Ojutalayo listed challenges confronting magistrates to include independence and funding; poor welfare and conditions of service; unconducive working environment; unclear path to higher bench; appointment and transfer; caseload, delay and congestion; records management and technology; jurisdictional overlap and institutional relations; public trust, integrity and ethics.
He, however, recommended some reforms such as reforms of criminal procedure, digitalisation and virtual hearing, alternative dispute resolution and specialised courts, to strengthen Magistracy and enhance justice delivery.
Discussing Ojutalayo’s presentation, Justice Adeola Adelaja of the Ogun State High Court noted that the future of the Nigerian Magistracy depends not only on technological advancement but also on the competence, integrity, welfare and independence of its judicial officers.
Adelaja said though all the issues discussed by the keynote speaker are important, many of the proposed reforms will require sustained cooperation among the judiciary, the executive and other justice-sector institutions.
“Improved welfare and career progression, adequate funding, continuing judicial education, transparent appointments, effective case management, appropriate use of alternative dispute resolution and responsible adoption of technology are all important to the continued development of the Magistracy. These reforms must be pursued without compromising judicial independence or the right to a fair hearing.
“Ultimately, the Magistracy must remain accessible, competent and responsive to the people it serves. Its success should be reflected not merely in the number of cases disposed of or the adoption of modern technology, but in whether people can obtain justice fairly, promptly and in accordance with the law,” Justice Adelaja submitted.
On his part, the Chief Registrar of Ogun State High Court, Luqman Oke, said the future must be measured by value created within the system, not just opportunities given, and proposed six practical steps for individual Magistrates, including exceptional case management to tackle delay.
Oke cited current figures of 80,812 inmates in Nigeria Correctional Service facilities, with 51,955 representing 64% awaiting trial, urging magistrates to maintain case-management records, embrace available technology like WhatsApp for notices and e-calendars, become students of law, make courtrooms places of dignity, measure performance and build reputation on integrity rather than lobbying.
He also proposed five collective initiatives for the association: establishment of a Magistracy Reform and Data Unit to publish an annual State of the Nigerian Magistracy Report, a practical Innovation Network to share best practices, a structured reform agenda with transparent criteria for career progression, stronger justice-sector coordination, and a common professional voice that is evidence-based and respectful.
“It is understandable that many magistrates aspire to the High Court Bench. However, an uncertain promotion process can become a source of constant anxiety if our entire sense of professional worth depends on it. Prepare diligently for advancement, but continue to build a meaningful career in the Magistracy. Develop leadership skills, legal expertise, mentoring capacity and institutional knowledge. Contribute to law reform, judicial training and administrative innovation within the limits of your role.
“The objective is not to abandon ambition. It is to ensure that ambition does not make us vulnerable to manipulation or rob us of satisfaction in the work we presently do.
“Finally, we must recognise that professional resilience is not the same as silent endurance. We should not romanticise poor working conditions or treat inadequate welfare as a test of loyalty. The responsibility to improve the system remains with the authorities empowered to do so. Our task is to remain effective while pursuing that improvement,” Oke stated.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Chairman, National Caretaker Committee of MAN, Onome Nwankwo, said the Caretaker Committee was constituted on 27th January 2026 after the dissolution of the former executive, and convened a NEC meeting in Abuja on 25th April, 2026 to reactivate national leadership processes, describing the Abeokuta convention as a new dawn for institutional renewal.
Nwankwo paid special tribute to Justice Dipeolu for her motherly love and generosity in hosting the historic event, and urged delegates to conduct peaceful, credible elections guided by integrity, competence and commitment to service, while calling on State Branches to remain functional, pay dues promptly and support national programmes to build an association that remains active throughout the year.
Source: punchng.com
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