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By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has renewed his call for the establishment of an additional Court of Appeal Division in Lagos, citing the state’s growing population and expanding commercial activities as reasons for the increasing burden on the judiciary.
The governor made the appeal during a courtesy visit by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, and other justices at Lagos House, Marina.
Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that the proposed courthouse for the Ikeja Division of the Court of Appeal would be completed before February next year, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to supporting the judiciary while respecting its constitutional independence.
He noted that the Lagos Division remains the oldest and one of the busiest divisions of the Court of Appeal due to the state’s status as Nigeria’s commercial and economic hub.
According to him, the rapid growth of Lagos has placed enormous pressure on every arm of government, including the judiciary, making the establishment of a second appellate division imperative.
“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.
“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 provide the infrastructure required to make this a reality because it is the people who will ultimately benefit,” the governor said.
Sanwo-Olu assured the Court of Appeal of his administration’s continued support, stressing that the judiciary must remain independent and adequately equipped to dispense justice fairly and efficiently.
He described Justice Dongban-Mensem as a jurist of integrity and exceptional leadership, commending her efforts to strengthen the nation’s appellate court and improve justice delivery.
The governor also praised her decision to deploy additional justices to Lagos earlier this year for a special sitting, which he said helped to significantly reduce the backlog of pending appeals.
Recalling that the Court of Appeal commenced operations in Lagos in February 1977, Sanwo-Olu said the state would play a key role in celebrating the court’s golden jubilee.
“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 consistent support for the Court of Appeal, particularly the assistance received from the Office of the Attorney-General.
She explained that the visit marked the commencement of activities to celebrate the court’s 50th anniversary, noting that Lagos was chosen as the starting point because it is the birthplace of the Court of Appeal.
“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 return to Lagos to formally inform the governor of our golden jubilee activities,” she said.
The Court of Appeal President disclosed that the anniversary celebrations would span the year and had begun with a special court session in Lagos during which several pending appeals were heard and determined, substantially reducing the backlog of cases.
She also revealed that discussions on the proposed Ikeja Division of the Court of Appeal were progressing, describing the project as a major milestone in positioning the court for the next 50 years.
“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.
Both the Lagos State Government and the Court of Appeal reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening judicial administration and improving access to justice across the country.
