Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has turned the sod for the redevelopment of the Igbosere High Court which was destroyed in the wake of the violence that trailed the #endsars protest in October 20, 2020.
The destroyed Court complex was the oldest and most notable colonial judicial building in Nigeria, originally called the Supreme Court with its jurisdiction limited to Lagos and its existence dates back to the period of cession of Lagos to the British Government when Lagos was identified as a British Protectorate.
The Court also housed the Supreme Court of Nigeria before it was relocated to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and at the creation of the Federal Supreme Court, the Lagos Supreme Court became a High Court of the Federal Territory Lagos.
On the 4th of November, 2020, Governor Sanwo-Olu had set up the Rebuild Lagos Trust Fund, RLTF, for the reconstruction of some of the damaged public buildings.
In a remark before performing the ceremony, Governor Sanwo-Olu who appreciated donors to the fund assured them that the fund would be accounted for and that he would monitor the progress of the redevelopment.
“We will ensure that we complete the first phase in the allotyed time so that all the Judges waiting to go back to court rooms that are befitting of the Lagos of our dream, a greater Lagos arising, that are befitting of a Lagos that is the commercial economic nerve cnetre of our country” he said
In an address of welcome, the Chairman, Board of Directors, RLTF, Mr Olayemi Cardoso thanked those who had been supporting the Fund through donations and solicited more support through the Fund website www.rebuildlagos.org.ng
In a remark, the State’s Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba revealed that the statues of the Lady Justice and the two Lions decorating the old court were not destroyed.
Justice Alogba expressed optimism that the new development would lead to more befitting courtrooms that would ensure quick and effective dispensation of justice.
The Project Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Trust Fund, Mr. Olujimi Hotonou said the redevelopment of the Court had been divided into two phases, with this initial phase of reconstructing the old colonial structure spanning eighteen months.
He said, we are going to have thirty-eight court chambers, a two floor two fifty capacity car park to address the acute challenge of parking which was previously a problem in the old court complex, we are also developing a seven hundred sitter multipurpose hall. This is a court that Lagosians would be proud of on completion”.
Goodwill messages were delivered by
the State’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo and the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, Mr Ikechukwu Uwanna
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Members of the State Executive Council, Justices from the Judiciary and other Stakeholders.
