Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun (CJN)
Say justice system critical to economic development
Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, have called for a more efficient, technology-driven and accessible judiciary as a critical driver of economic growth in Lagos and Nigeria.
They spoke during the 2026/2027 Lagos State Judiciary New Legal Year summit, themed: “Justice as an Economic Infrastructure: Strengthening the Judiciary for Africa’s Fifth Largest Economy,” held at Jewel Aeida, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
In her goodwill message read by the Administrative Judge of Lagos, Justice Atinuke Ipaye, the CJN said that an independent, efficient and accessible judiciary remains central to economic development.
She described justice as a form of infrastructure, as vital as roads, ports, electricity, and digital networks.
The CJN stressed that the judiciary’s responsibility was particularly significant in Lagos, given its position as a major hub of commerce, finance, technology, and industry.
Fashola advocated a comprehensive review of the experience of litigants and users of the justice system.
He said the judiciary should be treated as critical economic infrastructure and assessed not only by legal principles but by the quality of services delivered to court users.
Fashola said that the summit provided an opportunity for stakeholders to examine the effectiveness, accessibility and responsiveness of the justice system, urging a shift from purely legalistic considerations to a broader evaluation of justice delivery.
Earlier, Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), said a strong economy requires not only physical infrastructure but also an effective justice system.
He noted that a predictable, accessible and timely justice system promotes economic activity, while prolonged disputes could discourage investment.
He, however, described justice as both a constitutional necessity and a foundation for economic growth.
Sanwo-Olu called for sustained investment in judicial infrastructure, human capital and technology.
In his opening remark, Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, described the economy as the backbone of every community and urged the judiciary to recognise the broader economic implications of its decisions.
He said that Lagos State, as Nigeria’s commercial hub, has a significant role in driving national economic growth, noting that the theme of the summit was timely and relevant to the new legal year.
Alogba added that the seminar would henceforth adopt both physical and virtual formats to enable wider participation, given space limitations.
He, therefore, urged the participants to engage actively, stating that their contributions would enrich discussions and strengthen the justice system.