Lagos state as a State of the Federation was created in May, 1967. It has five divisions namely:
a. Lagos Island
b. Ikorodu
с. Ере
d. Ikeja
e. Badagry
Since its creation, it has produced jurists of national and international reputes whose
reputation, industry, intelligence and hard work are impeccable.
One of the greatest and is not the greatest of these jurists is the Late Hon. Justice (Dr.) Teslin Olawale Elias. He was from Lagos Island Division of the state and to be precise, from Idunmoba, Isale-Eko, Lagos. This jurist had a remarkable, unique, uncommon and unprecedented career in the annals of the Legal profession in Nigeria and the world over.
He had a PhD in Law and lectured at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. As a matter of fact, he organized a private tutorial; free of charge, for 80% of Nigerian Lawyers who studied Law in the United Kingdom in the late 50s and 60s. His achievements were remarkable, uncommon, unprecedented and unique in the sense that he succeeded Professor Gower as the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, in 1962 when that faculty was established.
He was Attorney General of the Federation between 1966 and 1971. He was never a High Court Judge, a Justice of the Court of Appeal or even a Justice of the Supreme Court. He was elevated from the position of an Attorney General of the Federation, to that of the Chief Justice of the Nigeria; a position he held between 1972 to 1975. He was the first and the only person that had achieved this height. What a great, unique, uncommon, unprecedented and unparallel achievement. Also, we have Hon. Justice Atanda Fatai Williams from Olowogbowo Area of Lagos Island who was made the Chief Justice of Nigeria between 1979 and 1983.
Also, at the Supreme Court, we had Hon. Justice Boonyamin Oladiran Kazeem, from Lagos Island, Idunganran, Isale-Eko, Lagos who was the father of Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, SAN; a former, Attorney General of Lagos State, during the tenure of His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Hon.Justice Habeeb Adewale Olumuyiwa Abiriu; a Justice of the Supreme Court, elevated in February, 2024, from Ilorodu Division of Lagos State. We had Hon. Justices J. O. Jinadu, Olayinka Idowu Agoro who retired from the Court of Appeal.
We have late Hon Justice Muritala Aremu Okunola Who was a presiding Justice of the Court of Appeal.’
This was a man that was elevated to the Lagos High Court Bench in February, 1986. He was made the Chairman of the Special Offences Tribunal sitting in Victoria Island, Lagos within two years of his appointment as a judge. By dint of hard work and of Court providence, spent only four (4) years in the Lagos High Court before he was elevated to the Court Appeal.
In Lagos State, we were privileged to have Judges who are indigenes of Lagos State that became Chief Judges at different times. We had:
i. Hon. Justice Ademola Candide Johnson
ii. Hon. Justice Legali Ayorinde
iii. Hon. Justice Sikiru Adagun
iv. Hon. Justice Abdul Fatai Adeyinka
(from Ikorodu Division)
v. Hon. Justice I. A. Sotunimu (Nee Alex Oni), from Olowogbowo, Lagos Island.
Vi. Hon. Justice Inumidun
Akande (nee Oshinowo) from Ikorodu Division.
vii. Hon. Justice Ayo Phillips (nee Williams)
viii. Hon. Justice O. 0. Atilade (nee Williams).
The present Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba is from Ikorodu Division. Almighty God has been very kind to Lagos State that we now have Hon Justice Kudirat Motomori Olatokunbo Kekere Ekun (nee Fasinro),
from Lagos Island and to be precise, Idunmagbo, Isale-Eko, as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. As a satter of fact, she is the second female to be made the Chief Justice of Nigeria; the first being Hon.Justice Mariam Aloma Mukthar. Our celebrant of today, Hon. Justice Lateef Babajide Aremu Lawal-Akapo, a Justice of the Court of Appeal is from Lagos Island Division, to be precise, Idunshagbe, Isale-Eko, Lagos.
We are fortunate and Almighty God has richly blessed Lagos State in the sense that we have produced three (3) Chief Justices of Nigeria namely:
1. Hon. Justice (Dr.) Tesli Olawale Elias.
2. Hon. Justice Atanda Fatai-Wiltiarns.
Almighty God will continue to bless Lagos State and other states of the Federation that has produced men of substance in the Legal and other professions whose achievements cannot be glossed over.
MOYO FUN E, MOYO FUN RA MI!
Dated this 28th day of September, 2024 complied by
Hakeem Adigun Akintoye Esq.
Chairman,
Dinner Planning Committee.
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