About Us
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.
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 carved out of the former Western, Eastern and Northern Regions of Nigeria, 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. He was succeeded as Chief Judge by Hon.Justice J.A. Adefarasin who served from 1st day of November 1974 to 24th day of April 1985. Hon. Justice Candide A. Johnson followed Hon. Justice Adefarasin and he held office from 25th day of April 1985 to 1st day of July 1989. Hon. Justice Ligali Ayorinde was next and he served from July 1989 to 10th day of April 1995.
The firstThe first female Chief Judge in Nigeria (and West Africa), Hon. Justice Rosaline Omotosho (Mrs) succeeded Hon. Justice Ayorinde and was Chief Judge from 12th day of April 1995 to the 27th day of February 1996.
After Hon. Justice Omotosho, Hon. Justice Olusola Thomas became the Chief Judge and served from 15th day of March 1996 to the 26th day of November 1996. Thereafter, Hon. Justice S.O. Ilori became Chief Judge and served from 27th day of December 1996 to the 5th day of January 1999. Hon. Justice Sikiru Adagun followed Hon. Justice Ilori and served briefly from 3rd day of May 1999 to the 22nd day of May 1999. Hon. Justice Adagun was succeeded by Hon. Justice Christopher Olatunde Segun, who was in turn succeeded by Hon. Justice I.A Sotuminu (Mrs) OON. Hon. Justice Afolabi Adeyinka thereafter took over the mantle of leadership and then by Hon. Justice Augustine Adetula Ade-Alabi OFR. The Hon. Justice Inumidun Enitan Akande (Mrs) OFR, assumed the leadership of Lagos State Judiciary on the 8th September, 2009, the position Her Ladyship occupied till 10 June, 2012. Hon. Justice Ayotunde Adeyoola Phillips (Mrs), was sworn in as the 14th Chief Judge of Lagos State on the 14th day of June, 2012. Hon. Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade (Mrs), was sworn in as the 15th Chief Judge of Lagos State on the 20th day of August, 2014. Hon. Justice O.O. Oke is the current Chief Judge of Lagos State. She was sworn on the 25th day of September, 2017.
The Chief Judge is the professional Head and the Chief Executive of the Judiciary. As at March 2017, there are fifty-eight (58) Hon. Judges and one hundred and thirty-three (133) Magistrates in the Lagos State Judiciary.
The Lagos State Judiciary has a hierarchy of Courts from High Courts to Magistrates' Courts and to Customary Courts each with its own Rules of Court. For the High Court, the current rules are the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2012.
The Chief Registrar of the High Court of Lagos State is the Head of Administration as well as the Accounting Officer. The other principal officers are the Director of Finance and Administration, Deputy Chief Registrars (Admin.) in the Ikeja and Lagos Divisions, a Deputy Chief Registrar (Legal) in Ikeja Division who takes charge of legal matters, Deputy Chief Registrar (special duties), the Head of Accounts and the Head of the Directorate of Library Services.
The Structure and work flow of the lagos state judiciary high court
| S/No | Name | Designation | Image |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mrs. A.O. Soladoye | CHIEF REGISTRAR |
|
| 2 | Mrs. D.T. Olatokun | DEPUTY CHIEF REGISTRAR ADMIN, IKEJA |
|
| 3 | Mrs. O.A. Okunuga | DEPUTY CHIEF REGISTRAR LEGAL, IKEJA |
|
| 4 | Mrs. O.A. Femi-Segun | DEPUTY CHIEF REGISTRAR ADMIN, LAGOS |
|
| 5 | Mrs. A.A. Demi-Ajayi | Deputy Chief Registrar (Special Duties), Ikeja |
|
| 6 | Mrs. A.K. Shonubi | Deputy Chief Registrar (Special Duties), Lagos |
|
| 7 | Mrs. K.O. Awobamise | Director Admin and Human Resources |
|
| 8 | Mr. Otolorin Gafar | Assistant Director Accounts |
|
| 9 | Mrs. Nike Akinyemi | Head, Directorate of Library Services |
|
As mentioned above, Hon. Justice (Mrs) Rosaline Omotosho was the first female Chief Judge in Nigeria and West Africa but the first female appointed to the High Court of Lagos State was Hon. Justice (Mrs) D.E.A. Oguntoye. Lagos State however also had the service of Hon. Justice (Mrs) Modupe Oladunni Omo-Eboh who was the first female High Court Judge in Nigeria. Hon. Justice (Mrs) Omo-Eboh died on the 25th day of February 2000.
| S/No | Name | Time Line |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hon. Justice John Idowu Conrad Taylor (HCJ) (Decd.) | 22 July,1964 - 7 November,1973 |
| 2 | Hon. Justice Joseph Adetunji Adefarasin (Decd.) | 1 November,1974 - 24 January,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,2001 |
| 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 Ayotunde Phillips | 14 June,2012 - 26 July,2014 |
| 15 | Hon. Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade (Mrs), | 20 August,2014 - 22 September,2017 |
| S/No | Name |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hon. Justice M. A. O. Abiru (Decd.) |
| 2 | Hon. Justice S. O. Adagun (HCJ) (Rtd.) |
| 3 | Hon. Justice S. A. Adebajo (Mrs.) (Rtd.) |
| 4 | Hon. Justice R. I. B. Adebiyi (Mrs.) |
| 5 | Hon. Justice S. D. Adebiyi (Rtd.) |
| 6 | Hon. Justice B. A. Adedipe (Decd.) |
| 7 | Hon. Justice A. B. Adeniji (Rtd.) |
| 8 | Hon. Justice A. A. Adeoba (Rtd.) |
| 9 | Hon. Justice A. A. Adesanya (Decd.) |
| 10 | Hon. Justice A. F. Adeyinka (HCJ) (Rtd.) |
| 11 | Hon. Justice I. O. Agoro (JCA) (Rtd.)(Decd.) |
| 12 | Hon. Justice A. A. Aka (Decd.) |
| 13 | Hon. Justice G. I. Akinboboye (Mrs.) (Rtd.) |
| 14 | Hon. Justice D. F. Akinsanya (Mrs.) (Rtd) |
| 15 | Hon. Justice A. A. Alabi (HCJ) (Rtd) |
| 16 | Hon. Justice D. A. R. Alexander (CJN) (Decd.) |
| 17 | Hon. Justice Z. A. Ashiyanbi (Rtd.) (Decd.) |
| 18 | Hon. Justice L. A. Ayorinde (HCJ) (Decd.) |
| 19 | Hon. Justice C. O. O. Bada (Rtd.) |
| 20 | Hon. Justice A. R. Bakare (Rtd.) (Decd.) |
| 21 | Hon. Justice A. L. A. L. Balogun (Rtd.) |
| 22 | Hon. Justice D. C. A. Bamgboye (Decd.) |
| 23 | Hon. Justice J. O. Beckley (Rtd.) (Decd.) |
| 24 | Hon. Justice E. A. Caxton-Martins (Decd.) |
| 25 | Hon. Justice E. A. Cole (Decd.) |
| 26 | Hon. Justice A. F. O. Dabiri (Rtd.) |
| 27 | Hon. Justice A. Desalu (Decd.) |
| 28 | Hon. Justice L. J. Dosunmu (JCA) (Decd.) |
| 29 | Hon. Justice A. O. Ejiwunmi (JSC) (Rtd.) |
| 30 | Hon. Justice M. A. Fafiade (Mrs.) (Rtd.) |
| 31 | Hon. Justice O. M. Falase (Mrs.) (Decd.) |
| 32 | Hon. Justice V. B. A. Famakinwa (Rtd.) |
| 33 | Hon. Justice E. A. Fernandez (Decd.) |
| 34 | Hon. Justice O. R. I. George (Decd.) |
| 35 | Hon. Justice T. S. Gomes (Rtd.) (Decd.) |
| 36 | Hon. Justice A. O. Holloway (Rtd.) |
| 37 | Hon. Justice E. A. Hotonu (Rtd.) (Decd.) |
| 38 | Hon. Justice S. O. Hunponu-Wusu (Rtd.) |
| 39 | Hon. Justice C. Ikpeazu (Rtd.) |
| 40 | Hon. Justice S. O. Ilori (HCJ) (Rtd.) |
| 41 | Hon. Justice S. O. Ishola (Rtd) |
| 42 | Hon. Justice Y. A. O. Jinadu (Rtd.) |
| 43 | Hon. Justice C. A. Johnson (HCJ) (Decd.) |
| 44 | Hon. Justice J. O. A. Kassim (Decd.) |
| 45 | Hon. Justice B. O. Kazeem (JCA) (Decd.) |
| 46 | Hon. Justice K. M. O. Kekere-Ekun (Mrs.) (JCA) |
| 47 | Hon. Justice A. N. Kessington (Rtd.) (Decd.) |
| 48 | Hon. Justice M. O. Kotun (Decd.) |
| 49 | Hon. Justice S. O. Lambo (FRC) (Decd.) |
| 50 | Hon. Justice E. F. Longe (Rtd.) |
| 51 | Hon. Justice E. A. Lufadeju (Mrs.) (Rtd.) |
| 52 | Hon. Justice V. L. A. Manuwa (Rtd.) (Decd.) |
| 53 | Hon. Justice L. G. A. E. Marsh (Rtd.) |
| 54 | Hon. Justice B. O. Martins (Rtd.) (Decd.) |
| 55 | Hon. Justice O. O. Obadina (JCA) |
| 56 | Hon. Justice M. A. Odesanya (Rtd.) |
| 57 | Hon. Justice J. A. Oduneye (Decd.) |
| 58 | Hon. Justice G. A. Oguntade (JSC) (Rtd.) |
| 59 | Hon. Justice D. E. A. Oguntoye (Mrs.) (Rtd.) |
| 60 | Hon. Justice M. A. Okunola (JCA) (Decd.) |
| 61 | Hon. Justice A. A. O. Okuribido (Decd.) |
| 62 | Hon. Justice I. A. A. Olorunnimbe (Rtd.) |
| 63 | Hon. Justice C. O. Olufawo (Mrs.) (Rtd.) |
| 64 | Hon. Justice M. A. Olugbani (Rtd.) |
| 65 | Hon. Justice I. I. Oluwa (Rtd.) |
| 66 | Hon. Justice M. O. Omo-Eboh (Mrs.) (Decd.) |
| 67 | Hon. Justice O. O. Omololu (Decd.) |
| 68 | Hon. Justice J. H. O. Omololu-Thomas (JCA) (Rtd.) |
| 69 | Hon. Justice R. A. Omotoso (Mrs.) (HCJ) (Decd.) |
| 70 | Hon. Justice M. O. Onalaja (JCA) (Rtd.)) |
