Press Releases

Federal High Court Lagos Moves To Ikeja After 36 Years

Sep 1, 2009 - After 36 years of operating in Central Lagos, the Federal High Court Lagos was Tuesday officially opened in the Ikeja Division by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdullahi Mustapha.

The Court, which was established as a Revenue Court in Lagos in 1973, was opened officially with a special court session presided over by the Chief Judge, Justice Mustapha, who was supported by other Judges including the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Inumidun Akande.

In his address at the occasion, Justice Mustapha described the creation of Ikeja Division of the Federal High Court as unique saying the creation became more apparent not only because the nation’s capital has moved to Abuja and not because Ikeja is the capital of Lagos State but also because of the development of commerce and the ever expanding frontiers of Lagos Metropolis to areas hitherto regarded as “up-land” areas.

“We are also conscious of the fact that the State Government’s Mega-City project should be encouraged and this Court ought to be placed on proper pedestal to meet the challenges of that lofty project”, Justice Mustapha said, adding that the High court will cater primarily for such areas as Ikeja, Agege, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikorodu and Kosofe.

According to him, “This will obviously reduce pressure on the Court in Ikoyi apart from bringing justice nearer to the people of the State residing or operating in these areas”, adding that the Statutory Instrument establishing the Division has since been signed by him on the 31st March, 2009.

Recalling his request to the Lagos State Governor for a ‘modest temporary accommodation’ for the Court’s immediate take off, Justice Mustapha thanked the Governor for the provision of the temporary accommodation and hoped that his request for parcels of land for a permanent accommodation including judges quarters would also be granted “in the shortest possible time”.

He said the official opening of the court in Ikeja will also avail opportunities to even the impecunious members of the society in the jurisdiction to ventilate their disputes before the Court at very minimal expense. “My only regret is that Lawyers in Ikeja and environs will lose appearance fees paid by their clients for transport to the Island”, the Chief Judge said.

“Apart from the very fact that it gives me a genuine sense of accomplishment of a pledge to the judges and staff, today’s occasion was made possible because of the enterprising efforts of His Excellency “, the Chief Judge said adding that he has also been eager to open the Division “and to extend to the law abiding citizens of the State in these areas, the Federal High Court’s high calibre delivery culture”.

Giving the genesis of the Federal High Court, Justice Mustapha said, “It was a special court set up for the purpose of dealing with matters relating to Revenue of the Federal Government, Taxation of Companies, Custom and Excise Duties, Banking, Foreign Exchange, Currency and Fiscal Measures of the Government of the Federation which the State High Courts were not in a hurry to dispose of.

Thanking Governor Fashola for his interest in the Federal High Court, and also other Judges but at the Federal and State levels, Justice Mustapha said, “I am proud that the Court, from a very humble beginning of only one Division at inception in 1973, now has 36 Judicial Divisions as contained in the Statutory Instrument dated 31st March 2009 and 60 serving Honourable Judges”.

In his comments, Governor Fashola said no location could be better for the Federal High Court in Lagos than Ikeja, the Central Business District where all the banks, governmental agencies and other businesses reside adding that the court has been brought close to the people.

According to him, the movement of the Court to Ikeja would also save the people the rigours of transportation to the Island aside from saving them the huge cost of litigation as a result of litigation fees,. “The Court has been brought close to the people who will need its service and who will also be called to answer before the courts”, Governor Fashola said

Commenting on the new structure, Governor Fashola, who gave the credit to his cabinet and the contractors that handled the job for the very quick and efficient execution of the job, Governor Fashola said, “When the retiring Chief Judge gave his orders, I had no other choice but to obey. Because the Attorney General always tells me, Your Excellency, there is a restraining order and once there is a court order we stop. But in this case he said to me that it is a compelling order”.

According to the Governor, “It was not me. It was your capability, the capabilities of the consortium, the capabilities of men and women who serve in the Cabinet of Lagos State, the capabilities of the men in the Public Service of Lagos State which was responsible for delivering this in less than 30 days because we started this on the 4th of August”.

Thanking the retiring Chief Judge for his effort the integrity of the Federal High Court, Governor Fashola said the establishment of the Ikeja Division of the Court will complement lawyer’s job and assist greatly in keeping them within the Mainland, a situation he said will save them from the chaotic transportation on the way to the Island.

Earlier in his remarks, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Olasupo Sasore (SAN) described the coming of the court to Ikeja as unique adding that the decision to establish the Ikeja Division of the court is both fair and equity.

According to him, “I found the decision of My Lord totally unappealable for the fact that it was in accordance with both Equity and Equality” adding that both Lagos State and every other state capital in the country should have a division of the Federal High Court.

Also present at the session were the Chief Judge of Lagos State Justice Inumidun Akande,, Chief Registrar, N. Ayo Emmanuel, and other eminent Judges at both State and Federal High Courts.