Lagos Judiciary

ILagos State Court System

The Lagos State Judiciary is the oldest Judiciary in Nigeria. Its existence dates back to the period of the Cession of Lagos to the British Government when it was established and known as the Colony Province Judiciary.

The First Court to be established was the Magistrates' Court. When the High Court was established later, it was called the Supreme Court and its jurisdiction was limited to Lagos. At self-government, the Federal Territory of Lagos inherited the two systems of Courts - the Magistrates' Courts and the Supreme Court.

At the creation of the Federal Supreme Court, the Lagos Supreme Court became High Court of the Federal Territory Lagos. Hon. Justice Conrad Idowu Taylor became Chief Justice of the Court on the 22nd day of July 1964. The High Court building in Lagos (at Race Course) was the headquarters of the Court and is the oldest and most recognizable Judicial Building in Nigeria.

When Lagos State was created as one of the twelve states by virtue of provisions of the States (Creation and Transitional Provisions) Decree No. 4 of 1967, which came into effect on 27th May 1967, the High Court and the Magistrate Court of the Federal Territory were merged with the High Court and Magistrate Court of the former Western Region then at Ikeja. This became the Lagos State Judiciary and Hon. Justice Conrad Idowu Taylor became the first Chief Justice of Lagos State. Today, the title of that office is Chief Judge of Lagos State.
Hon. Justice Taylor ceased to be the Chief Judge on the 7th day of November 1973.The following are the Chief Judges of Lagos State from 1973 to Date.
Hon. Justice J.A. Adefarasin 1st day of November 1974 to 24th day of April 1985.
Hon. Justice Candide A. Johnson 25th day of April 1985 to 1st day of July 1989.
Hon. Justice Ligali Ayorinde. 1st July 1989 to 10th day of April 1995.
The first female Chief Judge Hon. Justice Rosaline Omotosho (Mrs) 12th day of April 1995 to 27th day of February 1996.
Hon. Justice Olusola Thomas. 15th day of March 1996 to 26th day of November 1996.
Hon. Justice S.O. Ilori. 27th day of December 1996 to 5th day of January 1999.
Hon. Justice Sikiru Adagun. 3rd day of May 1999 to 22nd day of May 1999.
Hon. Justice Christopher Olatunde Segun. 24th day of May 1999 to 25th day of May 2001.
Hon. Justice I.A Sotuminu (Mrs) OON. 28th day of May 2001 to 5th day of March 2004.
Hon. Justice Afolabi Adeyinka. 8th day of March 2004 to 22nd day of July 2004.
Hon. Justice Augustine Adetula Ade-Alabi OFR. 8th day of July 2004 to 7th day of August 2009.
Hon. Justice Inumidun Enitan Akande (Mrs) OFR. 8th September, 2009 to 10 June, 2012.
Hon. Justice Ayotunde Adeyoola Phillips (Mrs] 14th day of June, 2012, to 26th day of July 2014.
Hon. Justice Funmilayo Atilade. 20th day of August 2014, to 24th day of September 2017.

The present Chief Judge of Lagos state Hon. (Mr.) Justice Opeyemi Oke was sworn in as the 16th Chief Judge of Lagos State on the 20th day of October 2017

The Chief Judge is the head of Courts and as at January 2019, there are fifty-nine (59) Hon. Judges and One Hundred and Fifty-Three (153) Magistrates in the Lagos State Judiciary.

The Lagos State Judiciary encompasses, High Courts, Magistrate Courts and Customary Courts each with its own Rules.

The Chief Registrar of the High Court of Lagos State is the Head of Administration, Chief Accounting Officer, Probate Registrar, Sheriff, Official Receiver and the Tax Master. Other Principal Officers are the Deputy Chief Registrars in the Ikeja and Lagos Divisions, Director of Admin and Human Resources, Director of Finance & Accounts and Director of Library Services.

IILagos State Judiciary Organogram

IIIHistorical Landmarks

IVPrincipal Officers of the High Court of Lagos State

S/No	Name	Designation
1	Mrs. D.T Olatokun	Chief Registrar
2	Mrs. O.A. Okunuga	Deputy Chief Registrar (Admin), Lagos
3	Mrs. A. Ipaye-Nwachukwu	Deputy Chief Registrar (Admin) Ikeja
4	Mrs. O.J. Awope	Deputy Chief Registrar (Special Duties) Ikeja
5	Mrs. A.K. Shonubi	Deputy Chief Registrar (Legal I) Ikeja
6	Mr. R.O. Davies	Deputy Chief Registrar (Special Duties) Lagos
7	Miss I Laguda	Court Administrator
8	Mr. K. A Sanusi	Director of Admin & Human Resource
9	Mrs. F.M. Oladogba	Head of Accounts
10	Mr. A. B. Bamigboye	Head, Directorate of Library Services
11	Mr E Alli	Head Legal Services
12	Mrs O O Ige	Head Public Affairs Unit
13	Mr O I Oyekanmi	Head Budget & Planning
14	Mrs W.A Oloko-Amusan	Head, Internal Audit Section

VRetired Hon.Chief Judges of the High Court of Lagos State

S/No	Name	TimeLine
1	Hon. Justice John Idowu Conrad Taylor	22 July,1964 - 7 November,1973
2	Hon. Justice Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin (Decd.)	1 November,1974 - 24 April,1985
3	Hon. Justice Candide Ademola Johnson (Decd.)	25 April,1985 - 1 July,1989
4	Hon. Justice Ligali Akanni Ayorinde (Decd.)	1 July,1989 - 10 April,1995
5	Hon. Justice Roseline Ajoke Omotoso (Mrs.) (Decd.)	12 April,1995 - 27 February,1996
6	Hon. Justice Olusola Olatunde Thomas (Decd.)	15 March,1996 - 1 November,1996
7	Hon. Justice Samuel Omotunde Ilori	27 December,1996 - 5 January,1999
8	Hon. Justice Sikiru Olatunde Adagun	3 May,1999 - 22 May,1999
9	Hon. Justice Christopher Olatunde Segun	24 May,1999 - 25 May,2011
10	Hon. Justice Ibitola Adebisi Sotuminu O. O. N.	28 May,2001 - 5 May,2004
11	Hon. Justice Afolabi Fatai Adeyinka	8 March,2004 - 2 July,2004
12	Hon. Justice Augustine Adetula Alabi O.F.R.	8 July,2004 - 7 August,2009
13	Hon. Justice Inumidun Enitan Akande (Mrs.), O.F.R.	8 September,2009 - 10 June,2012
14	Hon Justice A.A Phillips	14 June,2012 - 26 July,2014
15	Hon Justice F.O Atilade	20 August,2014 - 22 September,2017
16	Hon. Justice Opeyemi Oke	20 October,2017 - 10 June,2019

VI Retired/Elevated/Deceased Judges of the High Court of Lagos State

S/No	Name	TimeLine
1	Hon. Justice Samuel D. Adebiyi	12 October,1986 - 14 October,1973
2	Hon Justice Isiaka I Oluwa	1 June,1974 - 17 June,1983
3	Hon Justice Yaya A Jinadu	1 June,1974 - 22 October,1984
4	Hon Justice Wahid A Oshodi	6 March,1978 - 14 January,1992
5	Hon. Justice Ishola A. Olorunimbe	26 October,1984 - 24 March,1988
6	Hon Justice Samuel O Ilori	1 September,1980 - 5 January,1999
7	Hon. Justice Sikiru O.Adagun	11 November,1980 - 2 May,1999
8	Hon. Justice Alpheus O. Silva	26 October,1984 - 7 October,1999
9	Hon. Justice Musiliu A, Opeagbe	18 November,1986 - 31 March,2000
10	Hon. Justice Akinkunmi O. Holloway	31 October,1989 - 2 November,2000
11	Hon. Justice Abd.Rahman A. Sahid	3 March,1986 - 7 March,2001
12	Hon. Justice Monisola A. Fafiade	31 March,1983 - 9 April,2001
13	Hon. Justice Christopher O. Segun	1 April,1983 - 26 May,2001
14	Hon. Justice Yushau O. Yusuph	19 July,1996 - 21 July,2001
15	Hon. Justice Oluyimisola C. Olufawo	18 February,1994 - 24 September,2001
16	Hon. Justice Francis A. Owobiyi	31 October,1989 - 28 October,2001
17	Hon. Justice Solomon. O. Hunponu-Wusu	11 February,1986 - 14 March,2002
18	Hon. Justice Sekinat A. Adebajo	19 July,1996 - 29 September,2002
19	Hon. Justice Folorunsho E. Longe	1 April,1983 - 19 April,2002
20	Hon. Justice Moshood A. Olugbani	11 February,1986 - 22 August,2002
21	Hon. Justice Ibitola A. Sotiminu	11 February,1986 - 19 March,2004
22	Hon. Justice Afolabi A. Adeyinka	11 February,1982 - 2 July,2004
23	Hon. Justice Dolapo F. Akinsanya	31 October,1989 - 24 February,2006
24	Hon. Justice Abike E. Lufadeju	17 September,1998 - 1 May,2008
25	Hon. Justice Augustine A. Alabi	18 November,1986 - 8 August,2009
26	Hon. Justice Sunday O. Ishola	24 May,2001 - 17 January,2011
27	Hon. Justice Benedicta O. Shittabey	19 July,1986 - 9 July,2011
28	Hon. Justice Inumidun. E. Akande	31 October,1989 - 10 June,2012
29	Hon. Justice Titilola Ojikutu-Oshode	24 May,2001 - 12 June,2012
30	Hon. Justice Olateru-Olagbegi	24 May,2001 - 24 April,2014
31	Hon. Justice Adebisi Kayode-Ogunmekan	17 September,1998 - 12 August,2015
32	Hon. Justice Ayotunde A. Phillips	18 February,1994 - 26 July,2014
33	Hon. Justice Ebenezer. A. Adebajo	29 January,2004 - 5 July,2014
34	Hon. Justice Oluyinka Gbajabiamila	24 May,2001 - 30 November,2016
35	Hon. Justice Deborah O. Oluwayemi	24 May,2001 - 31 March,2017
36	Hon. Justice Olufunmilayo A. Atilade	19 July,1996 - 24 September,2017
37	Hon. Justice Yetunde O. Idowu	17 September,1998 - 2 May,2019
38	Hon. Justice Opeyemi Oke	19 July,1996 - 10 June,2019
39	Hon. Justice Folashade J. Bankole-Oki	28 May,2013 - 1 July,2019

VIITest

Justice Eniola Folorunso Longe, A Great, Eminent Jurist, by Justice Alogba, Onigbanjo.

Honourable Justice Okuwobi, A Quintessential Jurist, Bows Out.

The Lagos State Judiciary hasheld a Valedictory Co ...View More
Ololade Ige/ Adekunbi Bakare
Public Affairs Officers
14/01/2020

Date: 17/12/2019

Lagos State Governor Commissions Newly Constructed High, Magistrate Courts.

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Ige Ololade/Adekunbi Bakare
Public Affairs Officers
18/12/2019

Date: 25/11/2019

Lagos Chief Judge Promises Improved Capacity Building for Judiciary Staff.

The Chief Judge of Lagos State,Honourable Justice ...View More
Mrs. Ololade Ige / Adekunbi Bakare
Public Affairs Officers
26/11/2019

Date: 10/10/2019

Sanwo-Olu Restates Collaboration with State Judiciary … Presents 50 cars to Magistrates.

The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu today demonstrated his ...View More
Ololade Ige/Bakare Adekunbi
Public Affairs Officers
11/10/2019

Date: 24/09/2019

Alogba Decries Congested State of Nigerian Prisons.

Lagos State Judiciary Celebrates 2019/2020 New Legal Year ! .

Lagos State Government has assured the judiciary of it's support and corporation of the executive to ...View More
Ololade Ige/Adekunbi Bakare
Public Affairs Officers
23/09/2019

Date: 21/08/2019

Justice Alogba Sworn-In As Lagos’ 17th Chief Judge.… Restates Commitment to Transformation of the Judiciary.

Following the ratification by National Judicial Council andconfirmation of the ...View More
Ololade Ige/Bakare Adekunbi
Public Affairs Officers
22/08/2019

Date: 20/08/2019

Lagos Assembly Confirms Hon. Justice Alogba as the Lagos Chief Judge.

The Lagos State House Of Assembly has confirmed the appointment of Hon. Justice ...View More
Ololade Ige/Bakare Adekunbi
Public Affairs Officers
20/08/2019

Date: 07/08/2019

I Never Instructed Magistrates To Refuse Protesters Bail - Lagos Chief Registrar.

The attention of the Lagos State Judiciary has been drawn to a news report in S ...View More
Ololade Ige & Adekunbi Bakare
Public Affairs Unit
07/08/2019

Date: 27/06/2019

Lagos Judiciary Holds Special Valedictory Court Session.

Lagos State Judiciary yesterday held a special Valedictory Court Session for th ...View More
Ololade Ige/Adekunbi Bakare
Public Affairs Officers
28/06/2019

Date: 13/06/2019