Lagos judiciary generates N1.3 billion from brobate registry.

The Lagos State Judiciary has generated over N1.3 billion from its Probate Registry in the past four years.

Justice Inumidun Akande, the Chief Judge of Lagos State said this on Monday in Lagos while speaking at a Stakeholders’ Summit on the Administration of Probate Matters.

The summit which was with the theme: "A Critical Appraisal of Probate Administration in Lagos State was organised by the Lagos State Judiciary.

Despite obvious challenges, the Probate Division of the High Court has lived up to the expectation of not only rendering the required services, but also generating revenue for the Government,’’ Akande said.

She said from available statistics, a total number of 193 Probate Grants and 4,937 Letters of Administration were issued by the division from 2007 till date.

According to her, more than N304 million of the total amount was generated between Jan. 2010 and Oct. 2010.

The Chief Judge disclosed that the money was paid into the State’s Consolidated Revenue Fund and not to the state judiciary in line with the Lagos State Judiciary Self-Accounting Law.

Also speaking, the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji assured the Chief Judge that the legislators would continue to support her quest to bring integrity to the judiciary.

The functions of the three arms of government are well spelt out in the constitution and they must carry out their responsibilities without any interference, Ikuforiji added.

In a keynote address, Bolaji Owasanoye said the administration of probate matters in the Lagos State Judiciary had been facing critical challenges in recent times.

Owasanoye—an expert in probate laws-- noted that ``the confused and archaic state of the law, poor administrative practices, corruption, lack of ICT continues to frustrate the enjoyment of rights to property, especially when the deceased leaves no will behind.’’

Order 55, Rule 1 of the High Court of Lagos State Civil Procedure Rules 2004 states that all petitions for the grant of letters of administration of the estate of the deceased person, with or without a will attached, shall be made to the Probate Registrar of the Court.