BREAKING: OGUN AWARDS ₦6.1BN COURT OF APPEAL CONTRACT

The Ogun State Government has approved a ₦6,118,098,154.70 contract for the construction of a permanent complex to house the Abeokuta Division of the Court of Appeal.

Governor Dapo Abiodun gave the approval during the State Executive Council meeting held today, describing the project as a major milestone in the administration’s commitment to strengthening judicial infrastructure and improving access to justice.

📍 Project Location and Scope

The new Court of Appeal complex will be constructed on a 2.6-hectare parcel of land adjoining the existing State Judiciary Complex in Olipakala Village via Kobape area of Abeokuta. The site falls within the Judiciary Cluster along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway.

The development is aimed at bringing appellate adjudication closer to the people of Ogun State and reducing the burden associated with handling appeals outside the state.

⚖️ Addressing Long-Standing Challenges

A review by the Ogun State Ministry of Justice revealed that a significant majority of appeals currently handled by the Ibadan Division of the Court of Appeal originate from Ogun State.

For years, the absence of a Court of Appeal division within the state has:

Increased travel and financial costs for litigants and legal practitioners

Contributed to delays in the hearing and determination of appeals

Placed additional administrative pressure on the Ibadan Division

The establishment of the Abeokuta Division is expected to significantly ease these challenges.

🏘️ Preparations Already Completed

The state government had earlier demonstrated readiness for the take-off of the division by providing residential facilities for judicial officers and staff.

Six duplexes were constructed on 4,359 square metres of land at Ibara Housing GRA to serve as official residences for justices.

Twenty bungalows at Prince Court Estate, Kobape, were set aside to accommodate support staff.

In 2025, Ogun State received formal approval from the President of the Court of Appeal for the Abeokuta Division to commence operations.

This followed a special sitting of the Court of Appeal in Abeokuta in May 2024, during which about ten panels sat in the state and disposed of more than 150 appeals within three days.

🏗️ Timeline

The groundbreaking ceremony for the new Court of Appeal complex is expected to take place in the coming days. Construction is projected to be completed within 12 months.

The project underscores the Ogun State Government’s continued efforts to enhance judicial efficiency, promote timely dispensation of justice, and position the state as a key legal hub in Nigeria’s southwest region.