Justice Ayotunde Phillips to chair realnews 13th anniversary lecture

The Management of Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited, publishers of Realnews Magazine Online, has announced that Honourable Justice Ayotunde Phillips, former Chief Judge of Lagos State, will chair the 13th Realnews Anniversary Lecture scheduled to hold on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos.

This year’s lecture, themed “Cybersecurity, Illicit Financial Flows and Achieving Agenda 2063 in Africa,” will begin at 10 a.m. and bring together distinguished personalities from across the continent to discuss pressing issues affecting Africa’s digital and financial future.

SolaceBase reports that Justice Phillips, who also served as Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), confirmed her acceptance to chair the event in a message to Realnews dated September 22, 2025. “It is my honour to chair such a distinguished event,” she said.

In addition to chairing the lecture, Justice Phillips will moderate the panel session. Her Ladyship’s illustrious career spans nearly four decades in the Lagos State judiciary, where she served in several key capacities including Chairman, Panel of Inquiry into the Sale of Lagos State Government Shares in Eko Hotels Ltd (1999); Member, Advisory Committee of the Nigeria Rule of Law Assistance Project (2000–2004); Member, Election Petitions Tribunals in Rivers and Adamawa States; Probate Judge (2001–2004); Administrative Judge, Ikeja Judicial Division (2009–2010); and Head Judge, High Court of Lagos State (2010–2012).

She was sworn in as the 14th Chief Judge and fourth female Chief Judge of Lagos State on June 14, 2012, and retired from the Bench in July 2014 after 38 years of meritorious service — 20 of which were spent on the High Court Bench.

Read Also: CSOs hail justice Dije Aboki for transformative reforms in Kano judiciary

Beyond her legal career, Justice Phillips has served on various national and international bodies. She is a member of the FIFA Ethics Committee (Adjudicatory Chamber), to which she has been re-elected for a third four-year term, and previously chaired the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) from 2016 to 2021.

She is also affiliated with several professional and faith-based organisations, including the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), Federation of International Women Lawyers (FIDA), World Jurist Association (WJA), and the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association (CMJA).

Born on July 26, 1949, in London, England, to Justice James Oladipo Williams and Henrietta Aina Williams, both of blessed memory, Justice Phillips is a second-generation judge, following in the footsteps of her father. Outside the courtroom, she enjoys singing, reading, cooking, travelling, and exploring modern technology.

Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited is a general-interest online publication known for its commitment to investigative journalism.

The organisation reports extensively on governance, the oil and gas sector, and environmental issues, with a mission to inform, educate, and inspire positive change through factual reporting.

Since its inception, the Realnews Anniversary Lecture Series has provided a platform for intellectual engagement on national and continental development.

Previous speakers include Ambassador Professor Ibrahim Gambari; Dr. Edwin W. Harris Jr., Director-General of GIABA; Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa, NDLEA Chairman; Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote; and former President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, among others.

The Publisher and Editor of Realnews, Maureen Chigbo, said the anniversary lecture aims to “celebrate excellence, provoke constructive dialogue, and inspire actionable ideas that can shape a better Africa.”