Lagos Judiciary to commence 2017/2018 Golden Jubilee Legal Year Monday

Benjamin Omoike

The Lagos State Judiciary will commence activities for the 2017/2018 Golden Jubilee New Legal Year with religious services to be held simultaneously on Monday, October 9.

The New Legal Year, which was earlier scheduled to start on September 25, with various activities, was shifted owing to the need to swear-in a successor to the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, who retired on September 24, having attained the statutory retirement age.

The State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, had subsequently sworn-in Justice Opeyemi Oke as the Chief Judge in Acting capacity, pending the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Justice Oke, until her new position, was the most senior Judge in the State Judiciary.

A statement from the Office of the Chief Registrar of the High Court of Lagos State, Mrs. A.O. Soladoye, said that the New Legal Year Services will hold simultaneously at Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, and the Central Mosque, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Lagos on Monday, 9 October 2017, at 10.00am prompt.

It stated that there will be a Bar-Bench forum themed “Promoting A Pace-setting and Productive Judiciary in Lagos State” on Tuesday, 10 October, with the guest speaker being Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), at the High Court Foyer, Igbosere, Lagos, by 10.00am prompt.

According to the release, other activities lined up for the commencement of the Legal Year include a novelty match between Judges and Magistrates at the Ajele Stadium, Lagos; free medical health screening and treatment for members of staff of the State Judiciary at both the Lagos and Ikeja Divisions of the High Courts of Lagos State, as well as a stage drama, titled “Yes My Lord” at the City Hall, Lagos, by 4pm on Thursday, October 12, 2017.

The Golden Jubilee activities will be rounded off with a dinner at the City Hall, Lagos on Friday, 13 October 2017, by 6 pm.