Abiodun swears in new judges in Ogun

.....tasks them on fairness, quick dispensation of justice

By Peter Adedoyin

Ogun State Governor,  Dapo Abiodun, on Monday, sworn in the Acting-President of the Customary Court of Appeal and eight other judges for the State Judiciary, with a charge on them to dispense justice without fear or favour.

The governor, while addressing the new men of the Bench, equally tasked them to ensure prompt dispensation of justice to all manner of people at all times.

Speaking further at the ceremony held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, Abiodun described the judges as the last hope of the common man and bastion of democracy, hence the need for them to be above board.

"Judiciary is very important to democracy. It is an arm of government that tells us what the law says and assert the correct interpretations of the law. It keeps the other arms in check, so no one should underrate the importance of modern democracy. This places enormous task on them. Therefore, they must be above board".

"No investor will invest in a society without the rule of law and the judiciary is to ensure that there is rule of law. I urged you to make use of modern and practical methods of dispensing timely justice because you carry a burden of not only ensuring that justice is done, but seen to have been done".

"If other aspects of our national life suffer from decadence, the judiciary cannot afford to, otherwise the consequences is anarchy", he cautioned.

Abiodun said that his administration had carried out several reforms such as the Case Management and Schedule System, the Justice Clock, deployed to monitor time spent by  the Public Prosecution Department, Custody Monitoring Dashboard, Human Right Portal and the Correction Information Management System, to enhance justice delivery.

While maintaining that his administration would continue to play its role in enhancing access to quick dispensation of justice by facilitating the appointment of judiciary officers and providing needed tools for service delivery, Governor Abiodun noted that his administration was the first in the country to appoint President of the Customary Court, just as the Multi-Doors Courts in the State have dispatched over 1,000 cases in Ota and in Sagamu.

He said the eight judges who have been carefully selected and had passed the integrity and character test, have a sound understanding of the principles of law, adding that significant efforts have been made to uphold the judiciary by giving them maximum support to enable them discharge their constitutional duties effectively.

The new judges are  Hon. Justice Adebisi Femi-Segun, the Acting President of the Customary Court of Appeal, the former Chief Registrar, High Court of Justice, Ogun State, Oluwafunke Omolara Odubanjo, Esq; former Chief Magistrate, Ogun State Judiciary, Awofeso Ireti-Olu Babatunde; former Deputy Chief Registrar, High Court of Justice, Ogun State, Adelaja Adeola Ireti; former Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Ogun State, Adebayo Bamidele Adedapo and former Secretary, Judiciary Service Commission, Ogun State, Basirat Bolanle Adebowale

Others are; Ayodele Adebayo Omoniyi, a Private Legal Practitioner based in Ilaro; Sunday Olufemi Adeniyi, a Private Legal Practitioner based in Lagos and Abimbola Christopher Shokunbi, a Private Legal Practitioner also based in Lagos.