The number of judges in Lagos State has risen to 54 with the swearing-in of four new ones.Though the state parades the highest number of judges in the country, Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola is unhappy that only four out of seven scaled the hurdles of the National Judicial Council (NJC), reports ADEBISI ONANUGA.
When Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola swore-in four new judges, he could not hide his anger that the National Judicial Commission (NJC) chose four of the seven recommended for the job.
Their appointment has brought to 54 the number of High Court judges in the state – 39 women and 15 men.
Governor Fashola wondered why the NJC did not approve the seven names submitted to it for consideration as judges.
“We submitted seven names for consideration as judges and out of which only four were approved,” he said.
He said states and not the Federal Government should determine the number of judges needed in their states, as the responsibility of providing the facilities needed by the judges lies with the state.
The inauguration held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.
The new judges include Justice Olamide Akinkugbe, who, until her appointment, was the Chief Registrar of the High Court. Others are Justice Serifat Sonaike, Justice Abisoye Bashua and Justice Abdulfattah Lawal.
Fashola expressed conviction that there is no corrupt judge in the state judiciary. He added that in the last 16 years, ‘’issues of corruption in the Lagos judiciary are no longer there’’.
The governor challenged the new judges to take the lead in promoting law and order to build a better judiciary not just in the state, but in the country. ”You have chosen a very sensitive role to perform and hence the responsibility of performing this role without been biased lies on you,” he said.
He admonished the judges to be incorruptible and courageous, urging them not to be biased and to, at all times, ensure that they balance their social and personal lives with their official duties.
”We expect superhuman conduct from you judges. You must be above suspicion and should not be biased. Judges should be incorruptible and courageous,” he said, adding: “You need to be knowledgeable and be familiar with business development all over the world in order to ensure justice.”
He said the state has provided enabling environment and infrastructure for judges to perform and that this, according to him, include regular power supply to all the courts; a combined High and Magistrate Courts at Ikorodu; the new courts at Epe and Badagry and a new Magistrate Court at Ikeja, among others.
The state Chief Judge, Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade, said the ceremony was the climax of an appointment process which, according to her, the judges were found to be qualified.
She emphasised that their appointments were on merit, urging them to be disciplined, focused, incorruptible, diligent and committed to their duties.
She urged them to live up to their callings by being faithful and truthful to inspire hope and confidence in the judiciary.
Earlier, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, described the judiciary as an indispensable arm of the government without which the society becomes ungovernable.
He said the vacancies in the state judiciary had necessitated the search and intensive screening of qualified candidates to fill the positions, adding that it culminated into the recommendation of the best to the NJC which screened and recommended four of them to the governor for appointment.
The Commissioner noted that such appointments were awaited with eager expectation by both the legal professionals and the public because of the title and distinction attached to the office, and more importantly, the role judges play in the society.
“In accordance with powers conferred by the Constitution, a Judge of the High Court of Lagos State shall have in court the unlimited jurisdiction prescribed in Section 272 of the Constitution to hear and determine both civil proceedings and any matter of liability in respect of an offence committed by a person,” Ipaye said.
He added that judges’ judicial powers are very wide and they extend to all matters between persons, or between governments or between the authority and any person in Nigeria, and to all actions and proceedings relating thereto.
“Judicial powers also reach further to criminal jurisdiction and the imposition of appropriate penalties, extending notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Constitution, to all inherent powers and sanctions of a court of Law,” Ipaye said.
The Attorney-General while presenting the new judges to the governor confirmed that conditions precedent to the ceremony were fulfilled.
Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Justice Akinkugbe said they accepted the appointment with the full realisation of the responsibility imposed on them. She assured that they would not fail in their duties to the state and the judiciary.
While thanking Governor Fashola, the Chief Judge and the judiciary for having faith and confidence in them, she promised that they would all serve with dignity.
Justice Akinkugbe, 52, is a 1983 History graduate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) and the University of Warwick, Coventry, England, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Law in 1986.
She was in private practice between 1988 and 1993 before joining Olumide Sofowora’s Chambers and worked with the law firm till 1995. In same year, she joined the Lagos State Judiciary as Magistrate Grade 2 and later rose through the ranks before her appointment as the Chief Registrar last year. She was Chief Magistrate in-charge of administration in Yaba, Ikorodu and Igbosere Magisterial Districts and Coroner for the Lagos Island Coronial District. She is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, United Kingdom (UK).
Justice Sonaike is a 1992 LL.B. graduate of Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye and a 2006 Masters in Law holder of the Lagos State University (LASU).
She started her legal practice as a Youth Corps member with the Borno State Ministry of Justice, Maiduguri, before her redeployment to Oyo State Ministry of Justice, Ibadan as a Pupil State Counsel.
On completion of her Youth Service, she joined Olakunle Morohundiya Chambers and Chief Kunle Oyewo before moving to the magistracy in 1999.
Justice Sonaike rose through the ranks to become Chief Magistrate, a position she held until her appointment as a judge.
She was the Coroner Magistrate for Epe Magisterial District, member, Certified Institute of Shipping and the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association.
Justice Bashua, son of Alhaji Mikhail Bashua (SAN), obtained an LL.B. from the Lagos State University (LASU) in 1998. He had earlier obtained a Bachelor of Arts in History from same university in 1985. He was called to bar in 2000 and started his legal career the same year. He was in his father’s Chambers until his new appointment.
Justice Lawal graduated, topping his class as the “Best Student” of the Faculty of Law, in 1995 from the University of Maiduguri.
He had his Youth Service at the Nigerian Law Publications Ltd, the law reports company of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN). He was later moved to the Chambers.
Justice Lawal worked with the firm of Dr. G. Elias (SAN) between 2001 and 2003 when he joined the law firm of Aare Afe Babalola in 2006. He later became a partner and the Deputy Head of the Lagos Office of the Chamber in 2009.
Justice Lawal was the Secretary, Professional Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Ikeja Branch, from 2010 to date, member, Professional Ethics Committee of the International Bar Association (IBA) as well as Ethics Committee of the San Fernando Valley Bar of the State of Carlifornia, United States (US).
