By Ayomide Otitoju
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to the establishment of an additional Court of Appeal Division in Lagos, citing the state’s growing population and expanding economic activities as factors increasing pressure on the judiciary.
The governor made the pledge on Monday during a courtesy visit by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, and other Justices of the Court of Appeal at Lagos House, Marina.
Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that the proposed courthouse for the Ikeja Division of the Court of Appeal would be ready before February next year.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the judiciary while respecting its constitutional independence, noting that Lagos remains the oldest and one of the busiest divisions of the Court of Appeal because of its status as Nigeria’s commercial and economic hub.
According to the governor, the rapid growth of Lagos has placed enormous pressure on all arms of government, including the judiciary, making the establishment of an additional appellate division necessary.
“The pressure on Lagos is real because of the volume of commercial and economic activities taking place in the state. We feel it on the executive side, and I am sure the judiciary feels similar pressure,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu noted that while the Court of Appeal currently has 20 divisions nationwide, Lagos deserves a second division to improve access to justice and reduce the burden on the existing court.
“You currently have 20 divisions across the country. We have a desire to make it 21, and I will make the case that Lagos deserves two divisions. We are ready to work with you and provide the infrastructure required to make this a reality because it is the people who will ultimately benefit,” he said.
He assured the Court of Appeal of the state government’s continued support to enable the judiciary to discharge its constitutional responsibilities effectively and independently.
The governor also commended Justice Dongban-Mensem for her leadership and commitment to strengthening the judiciary and improving justice delivery across the country.
He praised the President of the Court of Appeal for deploying additional justices to the Lagos Division earlier in the year for a special sitting that helped clear a significant number of pending cases.
Sanwo-Olu recalled that the Court of Appeal commenced operations in Lagos in February 1977, describing the state as the historic home of the appellate court.
“The Court of Appeal started in Lagos almost 50 years ago, and Lagos will do everything possible to make your golden jubilee celebration memorable,” he said.
Earlier, Justice Dongban-Mensem thanked the Lagos State Government for its continued support for the Court of Appeal and acknowledged the assistance provided by the Office of the Attorney-General of Lagos State.
She said the visit formed part of activities marking the Court of Appeal’s 50th anniversary, explaining that Lagos was chosen as the starting point because it is the birthplace of the appellate court.
“We started here in February 1977, and since then the Court of Appeal has expanded from four divisions to 20 divisions across the country. We felt it was only proper to come back to Lagos to formally inform the governor of our golden jubilee activities,” she said.
Justice Dongban-Mensem disclosed that the anniversary celebration would continue throughout the year, beginning with a special court session in Lagos during which several justices heard and determined numerous pending appeals, significantly reducing the backlog of cases.
She also revealed that discussions were ongoing on the proposed Ikeja Division of the Court of Appeal, describing it as a key step in positioning the court for the future.
“We are ready to step into the Ikeja Division as we prepare to launch the next 50 years in the history of the Court of Appeal,” she said.
The visit reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between the Lagos State Government and the Court of Appeal, with both sides expressing commitment to strengthening judicial administration and improving access to justice across the country.Copyright TRUSTAFRICA NEWS.
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