Lagos Judge dragged to NJC for allegedly hoarding case file, frustrating appeal

A judge of the Lagos State High Court, Justice O.A Akinlade has been dragged before the National Judicial Council, NJC, over alleged abuse of office.

The allegation bothers on a divorce case, with suit No. LD/15719WD/2023, for which judgement has been delivered by Justice Akinlade.

A petition to the Chairman of the NJC, made available to journalists by the respondent, Mr Uche Vincent Ononaiwu said months after the judgement delivery, Justice Akinlade’s court had frustrated his right of appeal.

The petition, dated October 15, 2025, was titled: “A Complaint Against Hon. Justice O.A. Akinlade of the Lagos State High Court regarding Abuse of Office and Obstruction of Justice in Suit No. LD/15719WD/2023.”

The respondent told the NJC that his complaint bothers on the judge’s actions “by which she is blocking me from exercising my constitutional rights to appeal against her judgement delivered on the 21st of May, 2025.”

He recalled that by a Petition dated 4th December, 2023, Omolola Alice Makinde “had instituted divorce proceedings at the Lagos State High Court for the dissolution of my marriage with her.”

The petitioner said it was curious that by her said Judgement delivered on the 21st of May, 2025, the judge granted not only the prayers sought in the Petition,but also ordered his arrest by the Nigeria Police.

This is despite the fact that the plaintiff made no such prayers in the relief sought before the court.

He then told the NJC: “As is my Constitutional Right, my lawyers filed a Notice of Appeal dated 19th August, 2025 and a Motion for Stay of Execution dated 20th August, 2025. Service of both processes were duly effected on the opposing counsel by a bailiff of the court on 12th September, 2025.

“On 18th September, 2025 the Appeal Section of the Lagos State High Court duly delivered a request to that court to release the Case file of the suit to the Appeal Section of the Lagos State High Court to enable parties to be invited for reconciliation of the Record of Appeal.

“Instead of receiving information about the release of the case file, on 24th September, 2025 my lead counsel Chibuzor T. Obiajunwa received a phone call from a caller.

“On taking the call, the caller introduced himself as a staff of Honourable Justice O.A. Akinlade’s court.

“He identified himself as Mr Lawson Abiodun and stated that he was calling at the instance of Honourable Justice Akinlade to invite the undersigned and the opposing counsel in the matter for a meeting with Honourable Justice Akinlade for Monday 29th September, 2025.

“Struck by the strange nature of the Invitation, the said counsel called back the number, and on the caller taking the call enquired for the agenda of this meeting.

“In response, the caller stated that he had simply been instructed by the Judex to summon parties to a meeting and that even the phone was on speaker and the Judge was listening to the conversation.

“Against the background of all the circumstances surrounding this strange invitation and the lack of transparency regarding the objective of this meeting, in abundance of caution, my said counsel elected not to be present for such a meeting.”

He further stated that a petition had before now been written to the Chief Judge of Lagos State on the same matter, but no action had been taken, prompting him to seek NJC’s intervention.

“Indeed, in view of the fact of the Judge’s adamant posture on the matter, my lawyers complained in writing to the Chief Judge of Lagos State so that the judge will officially be prevailed upon to release the case file of LD/1571WD/2023 to the Appeal Section of the Lagos State High Court.

“In the circumstance of the foregoing, we are constrained to write this letter over the aforesaid actions of this Judicial Officer.

“Your Lordship is therefore graciously prayed to intervene in this matter and take appropriate disciplinary action to address this clear and egregious abuse of Power and Obstruction of Justice denying me of my Constitutionally protected Right of Appeal,” he appealed to the NJC.

Meanwhile, NEWS9JA also sighted a copy of the earlier petition sent to the Lagos State Chief Judge, dated October 9, 2025.

According to the respondent, the petition, “Complaint Against Hon Justice O.A. Akinlade For Abuse Of Office In Suit Number Ld/15719wd/23”, is yet to receive any action from the Lagos Chief Judge.

The petitioner is now looking up to the NJC for justice.