Lagos Judiciary Swears in 130 new Notaries Public

The Lagos State Judiciary on Tuesday swore in 130 new Notaries Public in a move aimed at expanding public access to notarisation and document authentication services across the state.

The oath-taking ceremony, presided over by the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem O. Alogba, was held at exactly noon in his courtroom at Osborne, Ikoyi, and drew a full house of legal practitioners, judicial officers and observers.

The exercise was conducted under the framework of the Notaries Public Act, 2023, which seeks to modernise and widen access to certified legal services while easing longstanding bottlenecks in document verification.

Judicial officials said the latest round of appointments reflects the judiciary’s commitment to improving service delivery in Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial nerve centre, where demand for notarisation services remains consistently high due to intense business, legal and cross-border activities.

Among the newly sworn-in notaries is Barrister Somadina Eugene Okorie, a Lagos-based legal practitioner with nearly two decades of experience in intellectual property and business law.

Speaking shortly after receiving his certificate of appointment, Okorie described the ceremony as “smooth, timely and orderly,” adding that the appointment represents an opportunity to deepen public service and professional responsibility.

Over the years, Okorie has built a reputation at the intersection of law, commerce and culture, handling matters ranging from intellectual property disputes and insolvency proceedings to corporate advisory services. His professional work also extends to research on legal innovation, economic participation and the protection of Africa’s cultural heritage.

Beyond litigation and advisory roles, he serves as legal representative to several prominent estates, including that of the late highlife music legend, Chief Stephen Osita Osadebe, and acts as company secretary to a number of private enterprises within and outside Nigeria. His involvement in the creative and entertainment sectors has positioned him as a familiar figure behind the legal and structural growth of the industry.

Legal analysts note that the induction of 130 additional notaries is expected to significantly reduce delays associated with notarisation, affidavits and document certification, particularly in Lagos, which processes some of the highest volumes of legal documentation in the country.