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Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State (right) watching Justice Lekan Owolabi as he signs the oath register at the sweaing-in of six newly appointed judges at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat, Ibadan on Monday. With them is the Director of Cabinet in the Governor's Office, Mr. Dotun Omokemi.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Monday swore-in six
newly-appointed judges of the state High Court, with a charge to them to be
judicial officers of impeccable integrity and to shun corruption and corrupt
tendencies in the discharge of their duties.
The appointments of the new
judges were announced on May 22 by the governor, thus bringing the total number
of the judges in the state judiciary to 22.
The new judges included the Chief
Registrar of the state High Court, Mrs. O. O. Olatunji, Mr. Bayo Taiwo from the
Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja and the immediate past Vice- Chairman of the
Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Lekan Owolabi.
Others were Mr. G. A. Sunmonu, Mrs.
O. M. Fadeyi and Mr. E. O. Ajayi, all Ibadan-based private legal practitioners.
Governor Ajimobi, while speaking at
the swearing-in ceremony held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building,
Secretariat, Ibadan, urged the new judges to be above board and not use their powers
to pursue ends other than justice.
``The powers of a judge are a sacred trust given to him to decide matters between persons or between government or authority and any person and to determine any question relating to the civil rights and obligations of a person.
``Be fine, outstanding, courageous, brilliant and incorruptible judges who always stand in defence of the truth. Keep the fountain of justice pure at all times, and refrain, absolutely, from subjecting it to any pollution motivated by mercenary, primordial or pecuniary considerations.
``Adopt role models among great Jurists and strive to be pure and incorruptible like those legal titans. Emulate the likes of Lord Denning, Cardozo, Olliver Wendell Holmes, J. I. C. Taylor, Taslim Elias, Andrew Otutu-Obaseki, Mustapha Obaseki, Augustine Nnamani, Chukwudifu Oputa, M. L. Uwais, Issa Ayo Salami, N. O. Adekola, O. A. Boade, Bunmi Oyewole, to mention a few of those noble jurists,’’ he said.
The governor described the occasion as another milestone in the annals of the state, especially as regards collaboration with the judiciary in ensuring quick and ample dispensation of justice.
He recalled that judges were last appointed into the state judiciary in June 2006, stressing, however, that the number of judges on the bench had since reduced considerably from 26 to 16, due to retirement of some and elevation of others to the Court of Appeal.
``I was reliably informed that the High Court Law of Oyo State prescribes a full complement of 30 Judges, including the Chief Judge, for the judiciary of our state.
``The powers of a judge are a sacred trust given to him to decide matters between persons or between government or authority and any person and to determine any question relating to the civil rights and obligations of a person.
``Be fine, outstanding, courageous, brilliant and incorruptible judges who always stand in defence of the truth. Keep the fountain of justice pure at all times, and refrain, absolutely, from subjecting it to any pollution motivated by mercenary, primordial or pecuniary considerations.
``Adopt role models among great Jurists and strive to be pure and incorruptible like those legal titans. Emulate the likes of Lord Denning, Cardozo, Olliver Wendell Holmes, J. I. C. Taylor, Taslim Elias, Andrew Otutu-Obaseki, Mustapha Obaseki, Augustine Nnamani, Chukwudifu Oputa, M. L. Uwais, Issa Ayo Salami, N. O. Adekola, O. A. Boade, Bunmi Oyewole, to mention a few of those noble jurists,’’ he said.
The governor described the occasion as another milestone in the annals of the state, especially as regards collaboration with the judiciary in ensuring quick and ample dispensation of justice.
He recalled that judges were last appointed into the state judiciary in June 2006, stressing, however, that the number of judges on the bench had since reduced considerably from 26 to 16, due to retirement of some and elevation of others to the Court of Appeal.
``I was reliably informed that the High Court Law of Oyo State prescribes a full complement of 30 Judges, including the Chief Judge, for the judiciary of our state.
``I continue to wonder how the 16 judges
we had were able to discharge the functions of 30 Judges. These onerous efforts
of our judges in ensuring that the justice dispensation lacuna was not felt
demands commendation by all and sundry,’’ he said.
While expressing his administration’s belief in the judiciary as a veritable and indispensable partner in the quest of the state to provide the greatest good for the greatest number of people, Governor Ajimobi promised to deliver on his mandate and electoral promises.
While expressing his administration’s belief in the judiciary as a veritable and indispensable partner in the quest of the state to provide the greatest good for the greatest number of people, Governor Ajimobi promised to deliver on his mandate and electoral promises.
One of these, he said, was that
that all citizens and residents of the state were compulsorily entitled and
guaranteed, as of right, unfettered access to justice, promising to address the
issue of insufficient judicial officers which might serve as an inhibiting
factor to access to justice.
Already, the governor said that an executive bill had been forwarded to the state House of Assembly to amend the High Court Law of Oyo State, so as to enable the State High Court to have more than 30 judges.
While congratulating the new judges, he said that it was mandatory for them and their seniors on the Bench to abide by their oath of office and to dispense justice to all manners of men without fear or favour.
Already, the governor said that an executive bill had been forwarded to the state House of Assembly to amend the High Court Law of Oyo State, so as to enable the State High Court to have more than 30 judges.
While congratulating the new judges, he said that it was mandatory for them and their seniors on the Bench to abide by their oath of office and to dispense justice to all manners of men without fear or favour.
Present at the occasion were the
Chief Judge of the state, Justice Badejoko Adeniji, the Speaker of the House of
Assembly, Mrs. Monsurat Sunmonu, members of the state executive council, Senior
Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), other members of the Bar and the Bench as well as
family members and relations of the new judges.
