LAGOS, October 28, 2025 — 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 and immediate past Chairman of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC), will chair the 13th Realnews Anniversary Lecture.
The annual event, themed “Cybersecurity, Illicit Financial Flows and Achieving Agenda 2063 in Africa,” will take place on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Isaac John Street, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, starting at 10 a.m.
Justice Phillips, who confirmed her acceptance in a message to Realnews on September 22, stated: “It is my honour to chair such a distinguished event.” She will also serve as moderator for the panel discussion following the lecture.
A respected jurist, Justice Phillips was sworn in as the 14th Chief Judge and fourth female Chief Judge of Lagos State on June 14, 2012, before retiring from the Bench in July 2014 after 38 years of service in the Lagos State judiciary, 20 of which were on the High Court Bench. She has held numerous judicial and administrative roles, including Chair of the Lagos Settlement Week, Chairman of the Welfare Committee of the High Court of Lagos State, and Head Judge of the Lagos High Court.
Beyond her judicial accomplishments, Justice Phillips is a member of several local and international legal associations, including the International Association of Women Judges, the Nigerian Association of Women Judges, the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association, and the World Jurist Association. She also serves as Deputy Chancellor of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Diocese of Lagos West, and as a member of the FIFA Ethics Committee (Adjudicatory Chamber), where she is currently serving her third term.
Born on July 26, 1949, in London, England, Justice Phillips (née Williams) is a second-generation judge, the daughter of the late Justice James Oladipo Williams and Henrietta Aina Williams.
The Realnews Anniversary Lecture Series, established to promote national discourse and thought leadership, has featured a lineup of distinguished speakers over the years, including former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, former Chief of Staff to the President Ambassador Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (rtd), and former CBN Governor Prof. Charles Soludo, among others.
According to Realnews Publisher and Editor, Maureen Chigbo, the lecture series “seeks to engage leading thinkers in discussions that advance Africa’s development and strengthen governance through informed dialogue.”
Realnews Magazine Online is a Nigerian investigative news platform renowned for its coverage of governance, the economy, oil and gas, and social issues. Guided by its motto, “For God and Humanity,” Realnews is staffed by seasoned journalists committed to ethical and impactful journalism that promotes transparency and justice in society.
