President Bola Tinubu has extended heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the late Justice Ibitola Adebisi Sotuminu, former Chief Judge of Lagos State, who passed away at the age of 86.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, the President also commiserated with the Body of Benchers, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the National Council of Women’s Societies, and the International Federation of Women Lawyers, describing the late jurist as a woman of integrity, honour, and diligence.
Recalling their shared time in public service, Tinubu highlighted Justice Sotuminu’s instrumental role in judicial reforms during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State. He credited her leadership as Chief Judge with strengthening public trust in the judiciary and modernising Lagos’ legal system.
Justice Sotuminu’s remarkable legal career spanned more than four decades. Beginning as a magistrate in 1969, she rose to become Chief Magistrate, and in 1984, became the first woman Chief Registrar of the Lagos State High Court. She was appointed a High Court Judge in 1986 and later served as Chief Judge from 2001 to 2004.
During her tenure as Chief Judge, she championed court infrastructure expansion, digitalisation of judicial processes, and introduced measures to speed up justice delivery, laying a solid foundation for Lagos’ reputation as a legal benchmark in Nigeria.
As final funeral rites begin, President Tinubu prayed for her peaceful repose and divine comfort for her loved ones.
