ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE – The Ogun State Government has taken a major step towards establishing a full-fledged division of the Court of Appeal within the state, approving a ₦6.1 billion contract for the construction of a dedicated complex in Abeokuta.
The contract, valued at exactly ₦6,118,098,154.70, was ratified during the State Executive Council meeting on [Date of meeting, if known, otherwise omit]. The new facility will be erected on a 2.6-hectare plot adjacent to the existing State Judiciary Complex in Olipakala Village, via the Kobape area, situated within the Judiciary Cluster along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway.
According to a statement released on [Day] by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), the project is a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to improve access to justice. A review by the Ministry of Justice revealed that a significant majority of appeals heard by the current Ibadan Division originate from Ogun State. The absence of a local division has historically imposed financial burdens on litigants and legal practitioners and has contributed to delays in appeal resolutions.
“This milestone represents a significant step in the State Government’s sustained efforts to deepen access to justice and bring appellate adjudication closer to the people of Ogun State,” the statement read.
The state government has been preparing for the division’s take-off for some time. Infrastructure to support the judiciary includes six duplexes already constructed on 4,359 square metres of land in the Ibara Housing GRA, designated as official residences for the justices. Additionally, twenty bungalows at the Prince Court Estate in Kobape have been set aside for the accommodation of support staff.
The push for the Abeokuta Division gained momentum following a special sitting of the Court of Appeal in Abeokuta in May 2024, where ten panels convened and successfully disposed of over 150 appeals in just three days. Subsequently, the state received formal approval from the President of the Court of Appeal in 2025 for the new division to commence operations.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the new complex is scheduled to take place in the coming days. Construction is expected to be completed within a 12-month timeframe. The Ministry of Justice reaffirmed its commitment to justice sector reforms aimed at democratizing access to justice and strengthening judicial institutions in the state.
