Chief Judge of Lagos State

Last updated

Chief Judge of
Lagos State
Incumbent
Kazeem Alogba
since 10 June 2019
Style My Lord
(Informal)
The Honorable
(Formal)
Your Lordship
(When addressed directly in court)
Appointer Lagos State Governor nomination with House of Assembly confirmation
Term length 4 years
Formation27 May 1967
(55 years ago) (1967-05-27)

The Chief Judge of Lagos State is the head of the Lagos State Judiciary, the judicial branch of the Lagos State Government and the chief judge of the High Court of Lagos State. From 1967 to 1973, the title was called Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. [1] [2] The appointment is often made by the Governor. "Section 271(1) of the Constitution provides that ‘The appointment of a person to the office of the Chief Judge of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the State,’". [3]

Contents

Powers and duties

The Chief Judge is the highest judicial officer in the state, and acts as a chief administrative officer as well as spokesperson for the judicial branch. [4] The Chief Judge presides over oral arguments before the court. When the court renders an opinion, the Chief Justice—when in the majority—decides who writes the court's opinion. The Chief Justice also has significant agenda-setting power over the court's meetings. The Chief Judge sets the agenda for the weekly meetings where the justices review the petitions for certiorari, to decide whether to hear or deny each case. [5]

Superiority

The Chief Judge is considered to be the justice with most superior, independent of the number of years of service in the High Court. The Chief Judge, therefore chairs the conferences where cases are discussed and voted on by other judges in the state. The Chief Judge often speaks first, and so has influence in framing the discussion. The Chief Judge sets the agenda for the weekly meetings where the justices review the petitions for certiorari, to decide whether to hear or deny each cases in the years to come. [6] The Chief Judge serves as the commission's chairman. [7]

Oath of office

The Chief Judge typically administers the oath of office at the inauguration of the Lagos State Governor. [8] In a situation where the Chief Judge is ill or incapacitated, the oath is usually administered by the Attorney General. Also the Attorney General typically administers the oath of office at the inauguration of the Chief Judge. [9] In addition, the Chief Judge normally administers the oath of office to newly appointed and confirmed associate judges. [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 27 May 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 7 November 1973 and was succeeded by Justice Joseph Adefarasin following his appointment that took effect on 1 November 1974. [16] He served in that capacity for 9 years until 24 April 1985 when is tenure ended. [17] He was succeeded by Justice Candide Ademola Johnson, appointed on 25 April 1985, a day after Justice Joseph left the office. [18] He spent 4 years in office and Justice Ligali Ayorinde succeeded him on 10 July 1989. [19] He served in that capacity for 6 years I.e between July 1989 to April 1995. [20] [21] The first woman to be appointed was Rosaline Omotosho, who served from April 12, 1995 to February 27, 1996. [22]

On 20 October 2017, the Governor of Lagos State Mr Akinwunmi Ambode appointed Hon Justice Opeyemi Oke as the New Chief Judge of Lagos State. This was after the erstwhile Chief Judge Oluwafunmilayo Olajumoke Atilade attained the mandatory retirement age of 65 years. [23]

On 10 June 2019, Honorable Justice Kazeem Alogba was appointed as the acting Chief Judge of Lagos State by His Excellency, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State. On 21 August 2019 he was confirmed and sworn in as the 17th Chief Judge of Lagos State. [24]

List of chief judges

Source: Lagos State Judiciary

Chief JusticeTerm
John Idowu Conrad Taylor 22 July 1964 – 7 November 1973
Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin 1 November 1974 – 24 April 1985
Candide Ademola Johnson 25 April 1985 – 1 July 1989
Ligali Akanni Ayorinde 1 July 1989 – 10 April 1995
Roseline Ajoke Omotoso 12 April 1995 – 27 February 1996
Olusola Olatunde Thomas 15 March 1996 – 1 November 1996
Samuel Omotunde Ilori 27 December 1996 – 5 January 1999
Sikiru Olatunde Adagun 3 May 1999 – 22 May 1999
Christopher Olatunde Segun 24 May 1999 – 25 May 2001
Ibitola Adebisi Sotuminu 28 May 2001 – 5 May 2004
Afolabi Fatai Adeyinka 8 March 2004 – 2 July 2004
Augustine Adetula Alabi 8 July 2004 – 7 August 2009
Inumidun Enitan Akande 8 September 2009 – 10 June 2012
Ayotunde Adeyoola Phillips 14 June 2012 – 26 July 2014
Oluwafunmilayo Olajumoke Atilade 20 August 2014 – 22 September 2017
Opeyemi Olufunmilayo Oke 20 October 2017 – 10 June 2019
Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba 20 August 2019

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References

  1. ↑ Falola, Toyin; Jennings, Christian (2004). Sources and Methods in African History. google.co.uk. ISBN   9781580461405 . Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  2. ↑ Mann, Kristin (26 September 2007). Slavery and the Birth of an African City. google.co.uk. ISBN   978-0253117083 . Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Fashola Swears In New Chief Judge". pmnewsnigeria.com. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "Lagos judiciary workers suspend strike - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "LagosStateJudiciaryInBrief". nigeria-law.org. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Oshisanya, 'lai Oshitokunbo (2 January 2020). "An Almanac of Contemporary and Convergent Judicial Restatements (ACCJR Compl ..." google.com. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  7. ↑ Adeboyejo Ayo. "Lagos State judges need capacity development – OJO - Newswatch Times". Newswatch Times. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  8. ↑ "Lagos State Government". lagosstate.gov.ng. Archived from the original on 20 April 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "Fashola approves appointment of six new judges for Lagos High Court - Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2018.
  11. ↑ Law, Robin (8 August 2002). From Slave Trade to 'Legitimate' Commerce. google.co.uk. ISBN   9780521523066 . Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  12. ↑ Nwabueze, Benjamin Obi (1982). A Constitutional History of Nigeria. google.co.uk. 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. ↑ Siyan Oyeweso, Breaking the Yoke of Patriarchy: Nigerian Women in the various Professions, Politics and Governance, 1914-2014, 2014, p.10
  23. ↑ "Ambode Swears In Justice Oke As New Chief Judge Of Lagos". Sahara Reporters. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
  24. ↑ "Appointment of Honourable Justice Kazeem O. Alogba as the Acting Chief Judge of Lagos State". Ministry of Justice. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
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