A special session has been held by the Lagos State High Court as part of activities to mark Lagos at 50. ADEBISI ONANUGA reports
JUDGES and other stakeholders converged on the high court premises at Igbosere to celebrate the judiciary’s successes as part of the activities marking Lagos at 50.
The special court session was held at court’s foyer.
Aside from the host and Chief Judge, Justice Olufunlayo Atilade and serving judges, others who attended included some former Chief Judges – Justices Samuel Ilori, Augustine Ade-Alabi and Ayotunde Phillips
The state is the oldest judiciary in the country. Its existence, according to Justice Atilade, dates back to the cession of the British Government when it was known as Colony Province Judiciary.
Justice Atilade said the Magistrates’ court was the first to be established. The High Courts, she said, was formally known as the Supreme Court, with its jurisdiction limited to Lagos.
She said on attainment of self-government, the Federal Territory of Lagos inherited the two court systems – the Magistrates’ and the Supreme Court.
“At the creation of the Federal Supreme Court, the Lagos Supreme Court became High Court of the Federal Territory Lagos and Justice J.I.C. Taylor (John Idowu Conrad Taylor) became Chief Justice of the court on July 22, 1964. But today, the title of that office is Chief Judge of Lagos state’, she stated.
The chief judge also recalled that the Igbosere High Court building was the headquarters of the court and is the oldest and recognisable judicial building in Nigeria.
She said the Lagos judiciary, being the foremost judiciary in the country, is renowned for excellence and numerous pace setting achievements. Justice Atilade said the state judiciary is fully aware of their constitutional role as the third arm of government.
She pointed out that their commitment to dispense justice as an independent and unbiased arbiter has been reinforced by their resolve to ensure justice to all who approach the temple of justice.
She said the outstanding performance of the state judiciary have over the years have been compelled by their desire for excellence.
She said this explained why the state judiciary has produced jurists of immense qualities most of whom are still serving the nation. The state judiciary, she further stated is the most vibrant and the largest in the federation with 57 judges, 138 magistrates adding that the size is a reflection of the high volume of cases in the jurisdiction.
Atilade promised that the judiciary would continue to invest in human resources to improve service delivery and statutory duties.
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode commended the judges and magistrates in the state for building public confidence in the judiciary.
The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State government, Mr Tunji Bello, said he was “particularly happy with the quality of their judgments which most superior courts have upheld’’.
“On behalf of the good people of Lagos State, I say well done and more power to your elbow,’’ he said.
Ambode said his administration would continue to support the state judiciary with necessary materials to ensure its efficiency and effectiveness.
He however noted that the journey in the last 50 years has not been rosy for the judiciary.
He said notwithstanding the achievements of the judiciary, more still needed to be done in view of the fact that Lagos, as the commercial nerve centre of West Africa presently cater for about 20 million people which continued to grow by the day.
He said: “This means more work for the state government in the area of security, infrastructure, social welfare and for the judiciary, more and more litigation which would require the quickest dispensing of justice, more especially as it affects investor’s within the state, to continue to encourage them to invest in the Lagos dream and project “.
Justice Ilori, who spoke briefly on the topic “Down memory lane”, recalled an event which captured how judges were revered and feared in the past, said no judiciary in Nigeria has a glowing edifice like the Igbosere High Court building. He thanked successive chief judges for keeping the building in good shape.
Justice Ilori recalled that the state had always produced quality lawyers and that this had reflected in the quality of judges on the bench. His memory of the past as a practising lawyer elicited laughter from the foyer.
He said judges during his days were revered and feared. He recalled an incident which he used to buttress this position.
He said two men were about entering Igbosere High Court when they saw a judge coming. He said of one them quickly told the other to remove his cap. He asked why he should do so. He said the first now said, better remove it, you can’t wear your cap in front of a judge. You don’t know those judges, they can see through the walls and before you know it, you are in trouble. He said the man became so terrified of the judge that he quickly removed his cap.
On the nature of the judges, Ilori said: “I think all the judges that have served and presently serving in the Lagos judiciary were specially made for Lagos. They don’t dance, they don’t attend parties, they don’t visit friends. We need the courts to come back same way. Judges must know that the judiciary is embedded in their personality. This is why judges must not do anything that would tarnish that position. I pray God to uphold them in the delicate job they are doing”.
He said the High Court, Ikeja was like a court in a foreign land and that lawyers who were not well-prepared dared not go there. He said Iya Oniyan’s bukateria was where the practising lawyers would gather at the end of various court session to analyse proceedings and the judges.
“We know judges who know their onions, we know those to fear and the no nonsense ones. We know Lagos judiciary not only by the quality of lawyers but also by the quality of judges”.
Pa Tunji Gomez, a member of the Body of Benchers, who spoke on behalf of the bar, commended the judges for their impartiality, boldness and courage.
Mr Ebun Sofunde, who spoke for the Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), praiseed the first Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Taylor, who he said, sat punctually at 9.00 a.m. He said Justice Taylor founded the Lagos judiciary on the rule of law. To buttress this, he recalled an incident when he handled a case of some robbers brought before him in shackles. He ordered the shackles removed.
Sofunde urged judges and lawyers to stand up and emphasise those traits that Justice Taylor stood for as the foundation for Lagos judiciary.
