Lagos State Judiciary

The Lagos State Judiciary is one of the three co-equal branches of the Lagos State Government organized under the Constitution of Nigeria and laws of the Lagos State government.[1][2] The Chief Judges are appointed by the Lagos State Governor with the consent of the House of Assembly to serve until the end of their tenure, resigned, impeached and convicted, retire, or die.[3]

Courts

The Lagos State courts comprises three levels of courts. The high court is the court of last resort before the Supreme Court of Nigeria.[4] It is generally an appellate court that operates under discretionary review, meaning that the Court can choose which cases to hear, by granting of writs of certiorari.[5] Other levels of court include the Magistrates and the Customary Court.[6]

Judicial Service Commission

The Lagos State Judiciary also consists of a Judicial Service Commission which statutory duties includes the promotion and appointment of judicial staffs as well as other disciplinary function.[7] The Chief Judge serves as the commission's chairman.[8] Other distinguish members of the Judiciary include the Attorney-General of Lagos State Attorney-General and Lagos State Commissioner for Justice|Commissioner for Justice.[9] The Chief Registrar serves as the head of administration and accountant to the judiciary.[10]

History

The Lagos State Judiciary is the first established Judiciary in Nigeria and formerly known as Colony Province Judiciary. Magistrate court was the first to be established among others. It was established before the High court, that was formerly referred to as the Supreme Court but and its jurisdiction was localized.[11] The establishment of the Magistrate court give birth to the High court, the then Lagos State Supreme Court.[12] When the Supreme Court of Nigeria was founded, the Lagos Supreme Court metamorphosed into High Court of the Federal Territory Lagos with concurrent appointment of John Taylor as the Chief judge.[13]

On May 27, 1967, the same year Lagos State was formed, the High Court and the Magistrate Court of the Federal Territory were merged to form the Lagos State Judiciary under the Leadership of John Taylor, the pioneer Chief Judge of Lagos State.[14][15] Taylor's tenure elapsed on November 7, 1973 and was succeeded by Justice Joseph Adefarasin following his appointment that took effect on November 1, 1974.[16] He served in that capacity for 9 years until April 24, 1985 when is tenure ended.[17] He was succeeded by Justice Candide Ademola Johnson, appointed on April 25, 1985, a day after Justice Joseph left the office.[18] He spent 4 years in office and Justice Ligali Ayorinde succeeded him on July 10, 1989.[19] He served in that capacity for 6 years I.e between July 1989 to April 1995.[20][21] On August 2014, Oluwafunmilayo Olajumoke Atilade was appointed as the Chief Judge, sworn in by Ade Ipaye, the Attorney General of Lagos State.[22][23][24] She was succeeded by Hon Justice Opeyemi Oke appointed,and thereafter sworn in and confirmed on the 20th October 2017 by the Governor of Lagos state, His excellency Mr Akinwunmi Ambode as the 6th female judge of Lagos state.[25]


References

  1. "Atilade makes history, succeeds sibling as acting Lagos Chief Judge". Vanguard News. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  2. "Lagos judiciary workers suspend strike - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  3. "Fashola approves appointment of six new judges for Lagos High Court - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2018-10-17.
  4. Falola, Toyin; Jennings, Christian (2004). Sources and Methods in African History. ISBN 9781580461405. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  5. Mann, Kristin (26 September 2007). Slavery and the Birth of an African City. ISBN 978-0253117083. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  6. "LagosStateJudiciaryInBrief". nigeria-law.org. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  7. Oshisanya, 'lai Oshitokunbo (2 January 2020). "An Almanac of Contemporary and Convergent Judicial Restatements (ACCJR Compl ..." google.com. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-10-17. Retrieved 2015-04-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "former Lagos State Commissioner for Justice Prof. Yemi Osibajo. - Africa - News and Analysis". africajournalismtheworld.com. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  10. "Lagos State Government". lagosstate.gov.ng. Archived from the original on 20 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  11. Law, Robin (8 August 2002). From Slave Trade to 'Legitimate' Commerce. ISBN 9780521523066. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  12. Nwabueze, Benjamin Obi (1982). A Constitutional History of Nigeria. ISBN 9780905838793. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  13. "The Audacity of Purpose, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  14. Ajiroba Yemi Kotun. "Paving The Way". TheNigerianVoice. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  15. "Learn About Lagos State, Nigeria - People, Local Government and Business Opportunities in Lagos". Overview of Nigeria -NgEX. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  16. ADEBISI ONANUGA. "Mind your conduct, CJ tells magistrates". The Nation. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  17. "Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin - Fundstellen im Internet - cyclopaedia.net". cyclopaedia.de. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  18. "ALB - Ring of diamonds: Africa's emerging centres of arbitration". africanlawbusiness.com. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  19. "Charged with Contempt of Court By Femi Falana". Sahara Reporters. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  20. "Memories of Biafran Nightmares, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  21. "NJC, Justice Oyewole and the burden of second oath". Daily Independent, Nigerian Newspaper. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  22. "Lagos gets new Chief Judge". The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  23. "Fashola Swears in Atilade as Lagos Chief Judge, Articles - THISDAY LIVE". thisdaylive.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  24. Judicial Reporter. "House of Assembly confirms Atilade as new Lagos CJ". judicialreporter.org. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  25. Ifeoma, Peters (2017-10-20). "My Judicial Odyssey – Honourable Justice Opeyemi Oke". DNL Legal and Style. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
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