President Bola Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ibitola Adebisi Sotuminu, who passed away at the age of 86.
In a statement on Wednesday, Tinubu, through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, extended his condolences to Sotuminu’s family, friends, colleagues, and various organizations, including the Body of Benchers, the Nigerian Bar Association, and the International Federation of Women Lawyers.
Tinubu described Justice Sotuminu as a woman of “integrity, honour, and diligence” and praised her significant contributions to judicial reforms during his tenure as Governor of Lagos State.
Justice Sotuminu’s career spanned over four decades, beginning as a magistrate in 1969. She became the first woman appointed Chief Registrar of the Lagos State High Court in 1984 and later served as Chief Judge from 2001 to 2004. During her time as Chief Judge, she introduced reforms that modernized court infrastructure, digitized judicial processes, and improved the speed of justice delivery in Lagos.
As her burial rites began on Wednesday, Tinubu prayed for her soul’s peaceful rest and offered comfort to her loved ones.