The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has enjoined the Judges, Magistrate and Law officers in the State to be closer to God by emulating the virtues of righteousness, tolerance, selflessness, brotherliness and perseverance in their dealings.
Abiodun, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Tokunbo Talabi gave this admonition at the Special Church Service, ushering in the 2021/2022 legal year, held at Cathedral of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta, the State capital.
He said that this is another opportunity for all Judges, Magistrates and Law officers of the State to be righteous, just and deliver their responsibility with fear of God, and reflection of equity and justice, saying that whatever “we do here on Earth would be accordingly adjudged by the Lord at heaven”.
He said that government had been given priority to the judiciary system in the State, thereby giving holistic approach in solving issues relating to the dispensation of justice.
He noted that government has given approval for the judiciary sector of government to admit more Judges and Magistrates, noting that in giving priority to judiciary sector, then rule of law, equity, righteousness, fairness and quick dispensation of justice would be prevailed.
The Ogun state Chief, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu said the legal year was to commence another year of dispensation of justice in the country, saying that it is imperative to mark this year in elaborate form after the reduction of Covid-19 pandemic that retrain last celebration of 2020/2021 legal year.
She said that judiciary in state had provided a general library and an e-library with computer and up to date search engine, noting that state judiciary had also provided standard archive (Book and File Archives) at its premises with book scanners and proper indexing of old record books from year 2010 to date.
She added that it has commissioned Small Claims Courts at Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ota, Ifo and High court, Idi Oke, Igbesaland had also commissioned, saying that State’s judiciary had recorded tremendous achievement within its domain.
In his sermon, the Rt. Rev. Dr. Peter Oludipe, the Diocesan Bishop of Ijebu, admonished the Judges and Magistrates to be Righteous, just and equity, saying that everyone would account for his/her stewardship.
He said some Judges, Magistrates and Law officers had let the love money and materials beclouded his/her reasons, saying no amount of bribery or corruptions could lead any unjust and biased law officer to the heaven of God.
He said equity is the really solution in addressing imbalanced social system of the country and misadministration, noting that justice could take equity one step further by fixing the system in a way that would leads to long-term sustainable, equitable access for generation to come.
He said in the Book of Proverbs 10:6-7, 11,25, “Blessings are on the head of righteous, the memory of the righteous is blessed. The mouth of the righteous is a well of life. But, the righteous has an everlasting foundation”.
He added that the verses taught everyone to be righteousness in every part of lives, saying once a Judge, Magistrate and Law officer do righteous in his/her dealing, then Nigeria would be place of peace for everyone, compared to the present situations.
Those that grace the occasion including, Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Olu and Paramount Ruler of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, Oba Adelekan Idowu, Alaperu of Iperu, Oba Sanni Adetunji Osho, Alaye of Odo-Remo, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, members of executive council, members of State’s House of Assembly among others.
