Barring any last-minute change of mind, Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba will on March 1, 2023 pronounce Surulere/Yaba and Eti-osa as Judicial Divisions within the Lagos State Judiciary.
Justice Alogba made the commitment today when he led a high-powered delegation of the state judiciary on a working visit to the Christopher Segun Courthouse in Eti-osa.
Addressing members of the Eti-osa Lawyers Forum (ELF) who also accompanied the chief judge on the visit, Alogba noted the hardship caused by the lack of pronouncement on the matter, adding that that would soon be over.
CITY LAWYER recalls that though the Mr. Olumide Akpata-led Nigerian Bar Association National Executive Committee (NBA-NEC) had created “Surulere Branch” among others, the “branch” has remained inchoate due to the absence of a judicial division, a pre-condition for the creation of an NBA branch.
It is recalled that the ELF has also been clamouring for its elevation to a branch status. When contacted, the ELF Chairman, Mr. Adewale Sanni applauded the impending pronouncement, adding that “Our dream of birthing another NBA branch to serve the teeming lawyers in this axis has been given a huge boost by this cheering development.”
Meanwhile, the chief judge has stated that about 44 courthouses are expected when the Igbosere Court Complex is completed, adding that the contractor has 18 months to deliver the edifice.
There are strong indications that 20 courthouses will be delivered at the completion of the first phase of the project, even as four High Court courthouses will be attached to the JIC Taylor Magistrates Court Complex in Igbosere.
Alogba stated that the Lagos State Judiciary will go full throttle with electronic filing by the next quarter of this year, urging lawyers to brace up for the development.
The chief judge also hinted that the Commercial Division of the court would be moved to Tapa, adding that the division will house 10 courts.
Among those who accompanied the Lagos Chief Judge on the tour were Justice Josephine Oyefeso, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, Justice Modupe Nicol-Clay, and Mr. Tajudeen Elias (Chief Registrar).
