Admin I Monday, June 29, 2026
LAGOS, NIGERIA — In a high-profile engagement aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration between the executive arm of government and the judiciary, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday, June 29, 2026, hosted the President of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, at the Lagos House, Marina.
The courtesy call comes at a pivotal moment for the appellate court, coinciding with a historic special sitting in Lagos organized to commemorate the Court of Appeal’s Golden Jubilee—marking 50 years since its establishment.
Receiving the President of the Court of Appeal and her entourage, Governor Sanwo-Olu reiterated his administration’s unwavering dedication to judicial reforms, financial independence for the courts, and infrastructural development designed to aid the swift dispensation of justice.
Lagos, serving as the commercial nerve center of West Africa, naturally generates a massive volume of commercial and civil litigation. Addressing this reality, Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that a resilient judiciary is the bedrock of economic stability and investor confidence.
”For Lagos to thrive as an international financial and commercial hub, the rule of law must be robust, predictable, and swift,” Sanwo-Olu stated. “We understand the immense pressure placed on our appellate system, and that is why Lagos State will continue to invest heavily in modern judicial infrastructure, digitized processes, and welfare support for our judicial officers.”
The Governor highly commended Justice Dongban-Mensem for her proactive leadership, particularly the recent deployment of 16 specialized panels consisting of 40 Justices drawn from various divisions across the federation to clear a backlog of over 360 cases currently clogging the Lagos Division.
In her remarks, Hon. Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem expressed deep appreciation to the Lagos State Government for its hospitality and robust logistical support, which made the mobilization of dozens of appellate justices to the state possible.
She explicitly acknowledged that the court’s limited federal resources would have been insufficient to successfully host an exercise of this magnitude without Lagos State’s partnership.
Justice Dongban-Mensem emphasized that the judiciary must aggressively confront mounting case dockets to maintain public faith in democratic institutions.
”Lagos is the birthplace of the Court of Appeal, making it the ideal ground to reflect on our 50-year journey,” the Court of Appeal President remarked.
“However, our visit is strictly a working one. The Justices are here to work tirelessly through the week. We are immensely grateful to Governor Sanwo-Olu for ensuring an environment that allows the judiciary to discharge its duties seamlessly.”
She also utilized the platform to appeal to members of the legal bar, litigants, and media stakeholders to protect the integrity of the courts, warning that public lawlessness is the natural alternative when confidence in the judiciary collapses.
The strategic meeting concluded with exchange of official gifts and a private, high-level deliberation focusing on long-term infrastructure, including residential accommodations and courtroom expansions for federal judicial bodies operating within Lagos State.
Also present during the courtesy visit were senior officials of the Lagos State Cabinet, including the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, alongside a delegation of prominent Justices from the Court of Appeal bench. Stakeholders across the legal spectrum have widely praised the meeting as a masterclass in inter-governmental synergy aimed entirely at easing the burden on the common man seeking justice.
This Lagos State Engagement Video highlights similar strategic high-level governance courtesy calls hosted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the state house to foster collaboration.
