- Safiu Kehinde
Former Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips, is set to chair the Realnews 13th Anniversary Lecture.
Phillips’ acceptance of the gesture was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Publisher of Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited, Maureen Chigbo.
According to the statement, the ex-Lagos CJ who also chaired the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) expressed her willingness to chair the lecture.
“It is my honour to chair such a distinguished event.” She reportedly wrote in a message to RealNews in September.
The lecture themed “Cybersecurity, Illicit Financial Flows and Achieving Agenda 2063 in Africa” is slated to hold at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John, Ikeja, GRA, Lagos, on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
As profiled in the statement, Justice Phillips, who will also moderate the panel session at the lecture, has held several judicial positions during her career on the Bench, such as Chairman Panel of Inquiry into the sale of the Lagos State Government Shares in Eko Hotels Ltd, 1999; Member Advisory Committee of the Nigeria Rule of Law Assistance Project hosted by the National Centre for State Courts, Washington DC and USAID, June 2000-2004; Member Election Petitions Tribunal, Rivers State, Sept 2000-April 2001; Member Election Petitions Tribunal, Adamawa State, November 2001 – March 2002; Probate Judge 2001-2004; Admin Judge, Ikeja Judicial Division March 2009-April 2010; Chairman Welfare Committee High Court of Lagos State 2004-2009; Head Judge, High Court of Lagos State April 2010 to 10th June 2012; and Chairman Lagos Settlement Week, Sept 2010 to 10th June 2012.
On the 14th June 2012, she was sworn in as the 14th Chief Judge and the 4th female Chief Judge of Lagos State.
Her Ladyship retired from the High Court Bench on 26th July 2014 on attainment of the statutory retirement age of 65 years.
She served the Lagos State Government for 38 years, out of which 20 years were spent on the High Court Bench.
Apart from her love for the law, she enjoys singing, reading, cooking, listening to good music, dancing, watching movies, and travelling.
She also has a passion for gadgets and loves exploring the beauty of modern-day technology.
Justice Phillips is also a member of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and, International Association of Women Lawyers. (FIDA), International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), Nigerian Association of Women Judges (NAWJN), World Jurist Association (WJA), Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association (CMJA). She is currently the Deputy Chancellor of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) Diocese of Lagos West, Ikeja, Lagos State.
She is also a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators UK, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Arbitrators, Regional Chair of the Nigerian Conflict and Management Group, Member Board of Trustees, Association of Multi-Door Courthouses of Nigeria, and Member of the Board of Directors of Lagos Court of Arbitration.
On the 29th June 2016, she was sworn in as the Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), whose tenure expired on the 29th December 2021.
In May 2017, she was elected as a member of the FIFA Ethics Committee (ADJUDICTORY CHAMBER) and has now been re-elected for a third 4-year term as a member of that chamber.