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Tag: Ogun CJ

  • Ogun CJ swears in 10 Customary court presidents

    Ogun CJ swears in 10 Customary court presidents

    Ogun Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, yesterday  swore in 10 Customary Court Presidents (Legal) and one member of the court.

    Speaking during the swearing-in at the Judiciary Complex, Abeokuta, Dipeolu said the occasion marked a milestone in effective and efficient justice delivery, as well as service to the community.

    The chief judge said the newly sworn-in presidents would be saddled with the responsibilities of interpreting laws, customs and traditions, as well as ensuring dispensation of fair and impartial justice.

    “It is expected of you to employ deep maturity and observe the principles of equity in the conduct of cases and handling affairs of Customary Court,” she said.

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    Dipeolu said their high level of professionalism with dedication to the course of justice distinguished them among others during the selection process.

    She advised them to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure that their personal beliefs did not influence the assessment or judgment of cases before them.

    President, State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Adebisi Femi-Segun, said the ceremony symbolised the commitment to rule of law in a society.

    Femi-Segun noted that the appointment was in line with laid down procedure for appointment pursuant of Section 197 (1) (c), 202 and 204 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), and the Customary Court Law of Ogun State Judicial Service Commission guidelines.

    Speaking on behalf of the newly sworn-in Presidents, Mrs Oluwatosin Junaid, promised that they would uphold integrity in their affairs and would not take the position for granted.

  • Why human trafficking is increasing, by Ogun CJ

    Chief Judge of Ogun State Justice Olatokunbo Olopade has blamed the rising cases of human trafficking to poverty, ignorance and ineffective law enforcement.

    She said peer pressure, porous borders, corruption, involvement of international organised criminal networks, lack of adequate legislation and political will to enforce existing legislation were other factors that fuel the crime.

    The CJ, represented by Justice Abiodun Akinyemi, called for stricter law enforcement to curb human trafficking.

    She urged the government to enact an all-inclusive law that adequately punishes offenders and has provisions to rehabilitate the victims, backed by reinforced legal institutions and framework.

    She said there was the need for extensive and broad public enlightenment through the media and in the markets, at community meetings, palaces, religious places and in areas that are prone to the scourge.

    The CJ spoke in Abeokuta at the opening of a two-day workshop organised by the Ogun State Judiciary, in collaboration with the Conference of Western Attorneys-General/African Alliance Partnership (CWAG/AAP) and Nigerian partner/coordinator, Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors (international law centre).

    Its theme was: Succeeding in the fight against human trafficking.

    She said: “The likely target audience is the poor and this must inform the strategy to be employed to reach out to them and pass the message across.”

    Justice Olopade expressed sadness over the scourge of human trafficking, particularly as it affects children.

    “The trend has taken a frightening and dangerous dimension globally, especially with our country, Nigeria, becoming a big hub breeding victims who are mainly children and women.

    “It has become a complex multi-faceted phenomenon. The demand for cheap labour and commercial sex workers has made human trafficking business to thrive globally.

    “All hands must be on deck to put a stop to this. It is necessary to lend our voices and ensure that this particularly vulnerable, helpless and defenceless specie are adequately protected,” she said.

    According to her, in a bid to protect children, family courts have been established in the state.

    “In fact, a standard family court has been built in Abeokuta and there is a move to replicate same in other jurisdictions,” she said.

    Justice Olopade called for more action to end human trafficking.

    National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) Director-General Dame Julie Okah-Donli, represented by Mrs Kehinde Akomolafe, said the agency had, in the last 15 years of its existence, rescued 12,882 victims, received 5,882 cases, investigated 3,602 cases, secured 294 conviction cases and convicted 352 persons.

    Okah-Donli noted that the scourge had taken untold toll on the victims and the society at large.

    “Human trafficking, like every other epidemic has its negative attendant effects which create cracks and destabilises the society in which it exists, thereby facilitating its continuous proliferation,” she said.

  • Tasks before mediators, by Ogun CJ

    OGUN State Chief Judge, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, has urged neutrals, mediators and arbitrators to help develop Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in the state.

    She also urged them to master the skills needed in settling disputes.

    Justice Olopade spoke at the opening of a four-day workshop organised in collaboration with the Institute of Chartered Mediators, and Conciliators of  Nigeria (ICMC) for neutrals, mediators and conciliators at the Judges’ Conference Room in Abeokuta.

    She said the workshop would  sharpen their mediation skills to ensure effective service delivery at the Multi-door Courtroom.

    Justice Olopade expressed confidence that the various topics on Alternative Dispute Resolution Spectrum, Mediation Process, Conflict Analysis, Personality types and ethics, among others, would afford the participants the opportunity of appreciating human behavioural patterns.

    She urged them to put the knowledge acquired from the workshop into best use.

    “I have no doubt that you will benefit tremendously from this training and at the end of the programme your mediation skills would have been sharpened, enhanced and it would definitely impact positively on your human relations even outside the Multi-door court experience,’’ she added.

    Justice Olopade disclosed that the construction of the Model Courthouse at Isabo, Abeokuta would soon be completed while efforts were in top gear to replicate the project in Ijebu-Ode and Ota areas of the state.

    ICMC President, Dr. Brown Ogbeifun commended the state Judiciary for being the first in the country to replicate the operations of the Multi-door Court House at senatorial levels.

    He said an induction would be organised for candidates who would be certified to preside over the Court House.

  • Ogun CJ seeks improved justice administration

    The Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, has urged the bar and bench to uphold the ethical standard of the legal profession in order to strengthen   administration of justice in the state.

    Justice Olopade gave the advice in her address at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Sagamu Branch, 2016 Bar Week Programme held at the Asoludero Court in Sagamu.

    The Chief Judge expressed concern at the decadence in the legal profession and the level at which corruption had eaten deep into the fabrics of the profession and the society.

    Justice Olopade said the lecture titled ‘Rescuing the Legal Prefession from Ethical Collapse’ could not have come at a better time than now when the country was facing myriads of socio-economic challenges ranging from corruption to recession among others.

    She praised the Sagamu NBA for organising the event; the first of its kind in the division, saying that the association had shown exemplary character towards the effective administration of Justice in the division and the state.

    Justice Olopade recalled the five years she spent on the bench at the Sagamu High Court Division, describing the period as challenging and a remarkable one.

    The Chief Judge said ‘’I congratulate and commend the Sagamu Bar and its Executives for putting up this event at this particular time. Corruption is not only present among the Bar and Bench, but among everyone in the country. We need to do something urgently about the falling standard of the legal practice in the country as a whole’’.

    In his speech, the President of the NBA Sagamu, Prince Debo Oduguwa, urged members of the association to ensure that the ethics of the profession was not compromised in any way to the detriment of the dispensation of justice to  both the ’weak and the strong’ in the society.

    Highlight of the 2016 law week programme was the conferment of award on the Chief Justice of the state, Justice Olopade and five other serving Judges in the State  while  a post-humous Award was  given to Late Kehinde Sofola (SAN) for his numerous  contributions towards the administration of justice in the state.

  • Ogun CJ frees 37 prisoners

    Ogun CJ frees 37 prisoners

    Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Olatokunbo Olopade, has granted unconditional release to 37 inmates from the five prisons in the state.

    Six prisoners were set free at Ilaro; 11 at 0ba; 15 at Abeokuta, two at Sagamu and three at Ijebu-Ode prisons.

    Olopade explained that the exercise, which was supposed to have taken place earlier, was shifted to this month due to judicial workers strike and the state counsel’s work to rule.

    She expressed optimism that the released inmates would have learnt their lessons, imploring them to turn a new leaf and be good citizens.

    The Chief Judge, however, revealed that the state judiciary has put up a Justice Fast Track Initiative Clinic in Abeokuta, Ijebu-ode and Ota High Courts to expedite criminal cases.

    “Industrial photocopier was purchased to enable easy duplication of the case file. With this, delay in the filing of information will be a thing of the past,” she said.

    Olopade implored police officers to cooperate with the judiciary by using available amenities because government has spent so much to enhance easy dispensation of justice.