Be incorruptible, Akeredolu tasks new judges

By Adekola Afolabi
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Ondo state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has charged the new judges in the State High Court to be incorruptible and be above board.

The newly inaugurated Judges are; Gilbert Olupitan, from private legal practice,  Olajide Abe, the immediate past Chief Registrar of the State High Court; Ademola Enikuomehin, the immediate past Secretary, Ondo State Multidoor Court House, Temitope Adedipe who also until his appointment was in private legal practice.

With the swearing in of the four new judicial officers the number of the State High Court Judges has risen from 16 to 20.

Addressing the judges, Akeredolu charged them to be incorruptible, but be above board and as well carry out their adjudicatory  duties to all and sundry in the society without fear, favour or ill will.

He stressed the importance of the position of the judge in the society, saying that after God, judges decide the fates of men and women, hence they are expected to be straightforward, upright, diligent, consistent and open in whatever they do in court and in any other place of human interaction and human endeavour that they find themselves.

While congratulating the judicial officers on their new positions, the governor described them as some of the best and finest materials at the Bar and from the Lower Bench who are coming to their new position with wide and varying experiences for the benefit of the state and her citizens.

“The qualities expected of anyone who aspires to be a judicial officer are clear. It takes an exceptional personality, outstanding in every respect, to occupy the exalted seat of a judge. Sobriety, continence and a general disposition towards rectitude must be the hall mark of a judge. Our dear State will not accept anything short of the best”, the governor emphasised.

At the inauguration, the governor also presented brand new Prado Jeep to the new judges as their official vehicles. The governor was quick to  plead with their family members, friends, acquaintances, school mates and clients (while in private practice) against any form of pressure that could bring about a miscarriage of justice.

He noted that government would continue to insist on having the best to occupy the Bench through rigorous and transparent recruitment process, adding that, “only the fit and proper should make the list as the destinies of communities, institutions, people and indeed the country would be placed in the hands of anyone who makes the final list.”

The governor blamed some unfortunate occurrences in the country in recent times on challenges thrown up by the incursion of strange elements in the judiciary, saying that it is sad to note that even judicial officers at the appellate courts are not immune from the malady of corruption.

The Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olutoyin Akeredolu, commended the governor and the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun for their positive interest in the affairs of the judiciary of the state.

Justice Akeredolu equally lauded the governor for his commitment to the implementation of financial autonomy of the judiciary.

She solicited more support from the State Government, especially in the appointment of more Judges, Magistrates, personnel of the Customary Court and other staff to fill the personnel vacancies in the judiciary.

Responding on behalf of others, Justice Bamidele Olupitan expressed gratitude to the state government for the opportunity with a promise to influence the judiciary positively.