Lagos Chief Judge Inaugurates Two Election Appeal Tribunals Ahead of Council Polls

Lagos Chief Judge has inaugurated two tribunals ahead of Saturday’s local government elections.

The panels will hear post-election cases in Lagos Island and Ikeja after the polls.

Ahead of Saturday’s local government elections in Lagos State, the Chief Judge, Justice Kazeem Alogba, has officially inaugurated two Local Government Election Appeal Tribunals to handle post-election disputes.

The panels, each comprising four magistrates and headed by a retired High Court judge, will sit concurrently in Lagos Island and Ikeja.

Justice Taofikat Oyinkan-Abdullahi (retd.) has been appointed as the chairperson of the Lagos Island panel, with Magistrates Michael Olubi, Olaitan Ajayi, Salamah Matepo, and Hotepo Lazarus serving as members.

For the Ikeja panel, Justice Sherifah Solebo (retd.) will preside, alongside Magistrates Davies Rasak, Oluwatosin Fowowe-Erusiafe, Adepeju Odusanya, and Lynda Balogun.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony at the Ikeja High Court Conference Room on Friday, Justice Alogba urged the panel members to uphold the values of fairness, impartiality, and strict adherence to the law as they carry out their duties.

He reminded the tribunal members of the legal timeline provided by the 2016 Amendment to the Lagos State Local Government Law, which stipulates a 21-day window for filing petitions following the declaration of results, and a 45-day timeframe for the tribunal to conclude its sittings.

“Any decision or action outside the stipulated time limit is invalid and carries no legal weight,” the Chief Judge emphasized.

He further urged the panelists to conduct themselves with the highest level of professionalism and integrity.

“You are expected to operate strictly within the bounds of the law. Your selection was based on my confidence in your sound judgment, experience, and character,” Alogba said. “I urge you to deliver justice without fear or favor, and to resist every form of undue influence.”

He also highlighted how the performance of the panels would reflect on the image of the state’s judiciary.

“Lagos State’s judiciary has built a reputation for integrity and remains a leading example within Nigeria’s judicial system,” Alogba stated. “You must give your best so that the decisions you render are respected and seen as credible by the public.”

He, however, noted that not every party involved in a tribunal case would be satisfied with the outcome.

“Of course, someone will lose. That’s the nature of adjudication,” he concluded.