Justice Inumidun Akande on Saturday bowed out as Chief Judge of Lagos State with a call for the strengthening and sustenance of the independence of the judiciary.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akande retired as Chief Judge after attaining the statutory retirement age of 65 on June 7.
She would be succeeded by Justice Ayotunde Phillips.
Giving account of her 1004 days in office as Lagos State Chief Judge, Akande said that she made positive strides to improve the judiciary during her tenure.
She said: “Bowing out of office, I am no doubt convinced that we have, within the period, creditably discharged our functions and laid solid foundations for succeeding administrations”.
Akande said that restoring the glory and dignity of the judiciary was one of her major achievements in office.?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?
According to her, some of the achievements of her administration included the upgrading of infrastructure at the high courts and magistrate courts, as well as the construction of Judiciary Recreation Centre and Staff Canteen at the Ikeja High Court.
Akande said that 99 inmates were freed during her prison visitations, adding that her administration also recorded improved staff welfare and training, as well as a Review of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2004.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Adebamigbe Omole, Ikeja branch chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), commended Akande for maintaining cordial relationship with the bar and advised her successor to also improve the dispensation of justice in the state.
NAN reports that the ceremony was attended by many dignitaries including the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Lagos State Attorney General, Mr Ade Ipaye; Sen. Oluremi Tinubu; and Lagos Branch chairman of the NBA, Mr Taiwo Taiwo.
Akande was called to the bar on June 16, 1971 and became a judge in Aug. 1989.
She was sworn-in as the 13th Chief Judge of Lagos State on Sept. 8, 2009 and became the third woman to serve in that capacity. (NAN)