The Lagos State Judiciary is the oldest Judiciary in Nigeria. Its existence dates back to the period of the Cession of Lagos to the British Government when it was established and known as the Colony Province Judiciary.

The First Court to be established was the Magistrates' Court. When the High Court was established later, it was called the Supreme Court and its jurisdiction was limited to Lagos. At self-government, the Federal Territory of Lagos inherited the two systems of Courts - the Magistrates' Courts and the Supreme Court.

At the creation of the Federal Supreme Court, the Lagos Supreme Court became High Court of the Federal Territory Lagos. Hon. Justice Conrad Idowu Taylor became Chief Justice of the Court on the 22nd day of July 1964. The High Court building in Lagos (at Race Course) was the headquarters of the Court and is the oldest and most recognizable Judicial Building in Nigeria.

When Lagos State was created as one of the twelve states by virtue of provisions of the States (Creation and Transitional Provisions) Decree No. 4 of 1967, which came into effect on 27th May 1967, the High Court and the Magistrate Court of the Federal Territory were merged with the High Court and Magistrate Court of the former Western Region then at Ikeja. This became the Lagos State Judiciary and Hon. Justice Conrad Idowu Taylor became the first Chief Justice of Lagos State. Today, the title of that office is Chief Judge of Lagos State.
Hon. Justice Taylor ceased to be the Chief Judge on the 7th day of November 1973.The following are the Chief Judges of Lagos State from 1973 to Date.  
Hon. Justice J.A. Adefarasin                         1st day of November 1974 to 24th day of April 1985.
Hon. Justice Candide A. Johnson                  25th day of April 1985 to 1st day of July 1989.
Hon. Justice Ligali Ayorinde.                        1st  July 1989 to 10th day of April 1995.
The first female Chief Judge Hon. Justice Rosaline Omotosho (Mrs) 12th day of April 1995 to 27th day of February 1996.
Hon. Justice Olusola Thomas.                       15th day of March 1996 to 26th day of November 1996.
Hon. Justice S.O. Ilori.                                 27th day of December 1996 to 5th day of January 1999.
Hon. Justice Sikiru Adagun.                           3rd day of May 1999 to 22nd day of May 1999.
Hon. Justice Christopher Olatunde Segun.       24th day of May 1999 to 25th day of May 2001.
Hon. Justice I.A Sotuminu (Mrs) OON.           28th day of May 2001 to 5th day of March 2004.
Hon. Justice Afolabi Adeyinka.                       8th day of March 2004 to 22nd day of July 2004.
Hon. Justice Augustine Adetula Ade-Alabi OFR. 8th day of July 2004 to 7th day of August 2009.
Hon. Justice Inumidun Enitan Akande (Mrs) OFR. 8th September, 2009 to 10 June, 2012.
Hon. Justice Ayotunde Adeyoola Phillips (Mrs] 14th day of June, 2012, to 26th day of July 2014.
Hon. Justice Funmilayo Atilade.                         20th day of August 2014, to 24th day of September 2017.

Hon Justice Opeyemi Oke   20th day of October 2017 to 10th day of June 2019

The present Chief Judge of Lagos state Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba  was sworn in as the 17th Chief Judge of Lagos State on the 20th day of August 2019

The Chief Judge is the head of Courts and as at January 2019, there are fifty-nine (59) Hon. Judges and One Hundred and Fifty-Three (153) Magistrates in the Lagos State Judiciary.

The Lagos State Judiciary encompasses, High Courts, Magistrate Courts and Customary Courts each with its own Rules.

The Chief Registrar of the High Court of Lagos State is the Head of Administration, Chief Accounting Officer, Probate Registrar, Sheriff, Official Receiver and the Tax Master. Other Principal Officers are the Deputy Chief Registrars in the Ikeja and Lagos Divisions, Director of Admin and Human Resources, Director of Finance & Accounts and Director of Library Services.

 
News
Date: 04/09/2024

Lagos State Judiciary Releases Plan for the New Legal Year.

Activities to mark the commencement of the 2024/2025 legal year have been announced by the Lagos Sta ...View More
Ololade Ige
Lagos State Judiciary
04/09/2024




Date: 02/07/2024

Lagos State Judiciary Trains Newly Appointed High Court Judges.

The Lagos State Judiciary has began a 7 day induction  course for the 13 newly appointed Judges ...View More
Ololade Ige/Folasade Olabiyi
Lagos State Judiciary
03/07/2024




Date: 28/05/2024

Lagos Chief Judge swears in 92 Notaries Public .

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Alogba, has sworn in 92 new Notaries Public rece ...View More
Ololade Ige/Folasade Olabiyi
Public Affairs Officers
29/05/2024




Date: 18/03/2024

Lagos Governor Charges Women Judges to Identify Challenges, Collaborate on Solutions.

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