Governor Dapo Abiodun on Monday assured that his administration would uphold the rule of law, work for justice and cooperate with other arms of government in moving the state forward.
Abiodun also assured the new state judiciary Complex located along Kobape Road, Abeokuta, would soon be completed.
The Governor who gave the assurance at the Cathedral of St Peter, Ake, Abeokuta during a special church service to mark the 2019 Legal Year, said the judiciary has been a pillar for the survival of democratic principles and preservation of the people’s right – which is the essence of government.
He said government would protect the rights of the people of the state as well as upholds the principles of the rule of law, provide a just, free and egalitarian society which guarantees continued development and abundant life for the people, irrespective of their gender, geographical location, economic, political or religious affiliations
He noted that the new legal year was another opportunity to reaffirm individual and collective commitment to the course of justice and improvement on the administration of justice in Ogun state.
“I assure all members of the Bar and Bench that we will be according the completion of the Judiciary Complex and its furnishing the necessary attention within available means so that we move the judiciary to its permanent location soonest.
“The administration of justice will also benefit from our administration’s wave of effective and efficient adoption of Information and Communication Technology to ease the cumbersome tasks of the judges and significantly improve the administration of Justice.
“The commencement of the new legal year offers us all yet another opportunity to reaffirm our individual and collective commitment to the cause of justice and the improvement of the system of administration of justice in our dear State.
“In every democracy, and without prejudice to the other arms of government, the Judiciary has been a pillar for the survival of democratic principles and preserving the rights of the people, who are the sole essence of government.
“We saw clear examples of that both on Thursday, 12th September, 2019 and Saturday, 14th September, 2019 at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal and State Election PetitionTribunal, respectively.
“The maintenance of law and order and the administration of justice are inextricably tied together since both are key requirements for assuring the health of the body polity and for the attainment of the good society.
“Throughout the ages, scholars, as well as spiritual and temporal authorities, have recognised a critical symbiosis between efficient and effective administration of law, and justice.
” One point on which they all converge is that law must be an instrument for the attainment of justice. To that extent, law should not be seen as an end in itself but as a means to an end that end being justice, fairness and equity.
“We will all recall that at the Inauguration of our Administration…, I made a solemn promise to the entire good people of our dear State that we will be fair, just, equitable, inclusive and we will always obey the rule of law.
“Towards the successful implementation of our Building our Future Together” Agenda, we appreciate the place of the Judiciary. And, if we will be successful in giving Ogun State a focused and qualitative governance and create the enabling environment for Public-Private Sector Partnership, which is fundamental to the creation of an enduring economic development and individual prosperity of the people of Ogun, it also means that we must ensure a viable system of law and justice which guarantees individual rights and assures our Development Partners of the sanctity of our pact with them.
“Let me say that I have no iota of doubt in mind of the individual and collective capability of Members of the Judiciary of our dear State in carrying out their constitutional duties.
“As a State, we are blessed with an array of the finest minds in different professional fields. In fact, we have also at different times exported our expertise to different nations and served in various capacities at the global level.
The Law profession is not an exemption. This is the home State of late Ademola Adetokunbo, the first indigenous Chief Justice of Nigeria; late Rotimi Williams SAN; late Chief Godwin Olusegun Kolawole Ajayi SAN; H.E. Prince Bola Ajibola SAN, who was a Judge of the International Court of Justice; and, many others.
“As members of the Bench and Bar, you inherit from all these great men and women of reputable legal practice and jurists of Ogun State origin, a tradition of eminence which you must sustain.
“We are Ogun State. And, considering the sterling qualities of the leadership of Ogun State Judiciary under the capable hands of the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Hon. Justice (Mrs) Mosunmola Arinola Dipeolu, one could be rest assured that Ogun State is on the right tracks of continued development.”
“I urge you to return to your respective benches with renewed energy and vigour that comes from what must have been a very restful break. It is also important that as you go into the new Legal Year, that, as befits your sensitive position, you must strive always to live above board and to rekindle the faith of our people in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
“You should use the opportunity of this new beginning to ensure a more noble service to the bench, to our dear State and to humanity. In this new legal year, your credo should be as contained in the Magna Carta, that great and timeless document that forms the basis of English constitutional liberties, To none will we sell, to none deny or delay, right or justice.
“As an Administration, we are irrevocably committed to providing a just, free and egalitarian society which guarantees a continued development of our dear State and a more abundant life for all our people and all those who have made our dear State their home irrespective of gender, geographical location, economic stratification, political or religious affiliation. As part of our commitment, we will continue to provide a conducive atmosphere for the rule of law and cooperate with the other arms of Government within the constitutional permission of our Separation of Powers between the three arms of Government in our democratic system.”