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 Lagos State.[1][2] The Chief Judges are appointed by the State Governor with the consent of the House of Assembly.[3]

## Courts

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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] The Lagos state Court has online filling system that makes the process easy.[1]

## Judicial Service Commission

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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

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The Lagos State Judiciary was 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, between July 1989 to April 1995.[20][21] In 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 20 October 2017 by the then Governor of Lagos state, His excellency Mr Akinwunmi Ambode as the 6th female judge of Lagos state.[25][26]

In accordance with Section 271 (1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), His Excellency Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State appointed Honourable Justice Kazeem O. Alogba as the 17th Chief Judge of Lagos State with effect from Tuesday 11 June 2019, in acting capacity, pending the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and subsequent confirmation of the Lagos State House of Assembly.[27][28]

In 2020,during the coronavirus pandemic, the Lagos state judiciary held its first virtual court proceedings led by chief judge Kazeen Alogba.[29]

## Restorative justice

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Restorative justice is an approach to justice where one of the responses to a crime is to organize a meeting between the victim and the offender, sometimes with representatives of the wider community. The goal is for them to share their experience of what happened, to discuss who was harmed by the crime and how, and to create a consensus for what the offender can do to repair the harm from the offense. This may include a payment of money given from the offender to the victim, apologies and other amends, and other actions to compensate those affected and to prevent the offender from causing future harm.

On 30 November 2021, the Lagos State Government affirmed its commitment to the Restorative System of Justice with a pledge to launch a Restorative Justice Centre.[30][31]

## References

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1. ^ "Atilade makes history, succeeds sibling as acting Lagos Chief Judge". Vanguard News. 28 July 2014. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
2. ^ "Lagos judiciary workers suspend strike – Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. February 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
3. ^ "Fashola approves appointment of six new judges for Lagos High Court – Premium Times Nigeria". Premium Times Nigeria. 20 May 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
4. ^ Falola, Toyin; Jennings, Christian (2004). Sources and Methods in African History. University Rochester Press. ISBN 9781580461405. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
5. ^ Mann, Kristin (26 September 2007). Slavery and the Birth of an African City. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0253117083. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
6. ^ "LagosStateJudiciaryInBrief". nigeria-law.org. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
7. ^ Oshisanya, 'lai Oshitokunbo (2 January 2020). "An Almanac of Contemporary and Continuum of Jurisprudential Restatements (ACCJR Legalgorithms)". Retrieved 24 April 2015 - via Google Books.
8. ^ "Lagos State judges need capacity development – OJO | Newswatch Times". Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
9. ^ "former Lagos State Commissioner for Justice Prof. Yemi Osibajo. – Africa – News and Analysis". africajournalismtheworld.com. Archived from the original on 2 February 2015. 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. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521523066. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
12. ^ Nwabueze, Benjamin Obi (1982). A Constitutional History of Nigeria. C. Hurst. 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. ^ Onanuga, Adebisi (9 June 2014). "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. 20 August 2010. 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. ^ "House of Assembly confirms Atilade as new Lagos CJ". Judicial Reporter. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
25. ^ Ifeoma, Peters (20 October 2017). "My Judicial Odyssey – Honourable Justice Opeyemi Oke". DNL Legal and Style. Archived from the original on 5 March 2021. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
26. ^ "Lagos and appointment of Chief Judges". Vanguard News. 3 October 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
27. ^ "APPOINTMENT OF HONOURABLE JUSTICE KAZEEM O. ALOGBA AS THE ACTING CHIEF JUDGE OF LAGOS STATE". Ministry of Justice. Archived from the original on 2 June 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
28. ^ "Sanwo-Olu appoints Justice Alogba as Chief Judge". Vanguard News. 10 June 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2022.
29. ^ "Lagos Judiciary Holds First Virtual Court Sitting". Channels Television. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2022.
30. ^ "Restorative justice system". 7 December 2021.
31. ^ "Lagos to launch restorative justice centre". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2022.