The Lagos State Judiciary has formally opened the 2025/2026 legal year with a ceremony marked by solemn reflections, prayers, and renewed pledges to uphold the cause of justice.
The event, held in Lagos, brought together senior government officials, judicial officers, and members of both the bar and the bench, underscoring the unity of purpose within the state’s justice sector.
In his address, the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, decried what he termed a “season of ignorance” in the country, where unverified opinions from social media influencers increasingly shape public discourse on sensitive matters, including law and governance.
Hamzat cautioned against the growing trend of individuals without legal or economic expertise pontificating on complex issues. “Somebody with a Twitter feed and 200,000 followers now pontificates as an economist or a legal mind. That is dangerous,” he said, warning that such uninformed commentary erodes respect for judicial institutions.
He urged Nigerians to value the work of judges and the sanctity of the rule of law, discouraging mob‑style condemnation of judicial pronouncements. Judges, he advised, should remain steadfast in righteousness and not be swayed by ignorant criticisms.
The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, in his remarks, commended the unwavering support of the state government, describing Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu and his deputy as strong pillars of the administration of justice in Lagos.
Justice Alogba charged judicial officers to “fear God” and serve without fear or favour, assuring Lagosians that the judiciary will continue to dispense justice impartially, resist all forms of temptation, and safeguard the rule of law. He also paid tribute to retired judges, pledging that the bench will uphold its sacred responsibility to the people.
Delivering the lecture at the service, Professor Saheed Timehin stressed that justice is not merely a legal process but a sacred duty of immense moral and spiritual weight. He described the judiciary as the conscience of the legal system and the last hope of the common man, warning that compromise for fear, favour, or bribery constitutes a betrayal of both the Constitution and divine trust.
The ceremony concluded with prayers for the judiciary, Lagos State, and the nation, as stakeholders reaffirmed their collective dedication to truth, fairness, and service to humanity in the new legal year.
