Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, Wednesday swore in Justice Oluwafunmilayo Olajumoke Atilade as the new Chief Judge of Lagos State.

Atilade was a former High Court Judge. She became CJ following the retirement of her elder sister, Justice Ayotunde Philips from the bench of the state judiciary as Chief Judge.

This is the first time in the history of the state judiciary that siblings will succeed each other as Chief Judge of the state.

Presenting the Chief Judge designate, for the oath of office, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye said that due to the exit of Justice Ayotunde Phillips, it had become necessary for Lagos State to have a new Chief Judge.

“In that regard, section 271(1) of the Constitution provides that ‘the appointment of a person to the office of the Chief Judge of a State shall be made by the Governor of the State on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, subject to the confirmation of the appointment by the House of Assembly of the State,’” .

Ipaye, however, added that the Chief Judge designate has indeed been recommended by the National Judicial Council and appointed by the State Governor, her appointment has also been reviewed, found worthy and confirmed by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

In her response, the newly sworn in Justice Atilade praised her predecessor’s immense contributions to the growth and development of the judicial arm of the state while promising to continue from there.

She promised to complete the computerisation process of the judiciary and make a case for the appointment of more judges to speed up hearing of cases at the court.

Atilade further said she would continue with the decongestion of prisons started by her predecessor, especially with those awaiting trial.

Atilade was born on 24 September, 1952.