The Ogun State Government has approved a ₦6.1 billion contract for the construction of a permanent complex to house the Abeokuta Division of the Court of Appeal, marking a major milestone in the state’s drive to expand access to justice and strengthen judicial infrastructure.
The approval was granted at the State Executive Council meeting, paving the way for the development of a modern appellate court complex on a 2.6-hectare parcel of land adjoining the existing State Judiciary Complex in Olipakala Village, via Kobape area of Abeokuta. The site is located within the Judiciary Cluster along the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway.
Valued at ₦6,118,098,154.70, the project is expected to be completed within twelve months, with a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled to take place in the coming days.
Announcing the development, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, described the initiative as a significant step in deepening access to justice and bringing appellate adjudication closer to the people of Ogun State.
According to a review conducted by the Ministry of Justice, a substantial number of appeals currently handled by the Court of Appeal of Nigeria in Ibadan originate from Ogun State. The absence of a functional division within the state has, over the years, imposed additional financial strain on litigants and legal practitioners, while also contributing to delays in the determination of appeals.
Legal observers note that the establishment of a full-fledged division in Abeokuta will drastically reduce travel time and associated costs for appellants, lawyers and witnesses, while enhancing the speed and efficiency of appellate proceedings.
The state government has, in anticipation of the division’s take-off, made extensive logistical preparations. Six duplexes have already been constructed on 4,359 square metres of land in Ibara Housing GRA to serve as official residences for justices of the division. Additionally, twenty bungalows at the Prince Court Estate, Kobape, have been designated to accommodate support staff.
In 2025, the state received formal approval from the President of the Court of Appeal for the Abeokuta Division to commence operations. The approval followed a special sitting of the appellate court in Abeokuta in May 2024, during which about ten panels sat and disposed of over 150 appeals within three days — a development widely regarded as a demonstration of both the viability and urgency of a permanent division in the state.
The proposed complex is expected to feature courtrooms, chambers, registry offices and other modern judicial facilities designed to meet the operational needs of an appellate court division.
The Ogun State Government said the project aligns with its broader justice sector reform agenda aimed at democratising access to justice, strengthening institutions and ensuring efficient judicial service delivery.
With construction set to commence shortly, stakeholders across the legal community have welcomed the initiative, describing it as a transformative investment that will consolidate Ogun State’s position as a leading judicial hub in the South-West and reinforce public confidence in the administration of justice.
