Sanwo Olu Restate Support For Judiciary

 

Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu has assured the judiciary of continuous cooperation and support to ensure improved access to justice by all Lagosians irrespective of social and economic status.

Governor Sanwo-Olu gave the assursnce ìn a goodwill message delivered at the Lagos Central Mosque to mark the commencement of the 2021/2022 legal year.

He said inspite of challenges "especially the mindless destruction and vandalisation of Igbosere High court, the oldest court building in Nigeria, the judicial system has continued to function effectively and efficiently. 

He commend the Chief Judge Justice Kazeem Alogba and the entire members of the Lagos State Judiciary for the success recorded in the last legal year ìn spite of challenge posed by COVID-19 pandemic and the aftermath of the EndSars protest which was hijacked by hoodlums to wreak havoc on public and private assets. 

"This is a reflection of the quality of leadership and commitment of the entire members of the judicial arm"' he noted. 

The Governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Prince Olarewaju Elegushi  assured the judiciary of the continued support of his administration.

He gave assurance that his administration remained committed to the ongoing reconstruction of Igbosere high court and renovation of others courts including the digitisation project aimed at enhancing speedy dispensation of justice, which is one of the objectives of the security and governance pillar of our administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S agenda.

"This is a reflection of the quality of leadership and commitment of the entire members of the judicial arm"' he noted. 

Also speaking ,Associate Professor of Islamic Studies, Lagos State University(LASU), Ustadh Kabir Paramọlẹ, who spoke on the topic "Essence of Effective Administration of Justice ìn Nigeria"  at the Central Mosque, Lagos stated that it would bẹ difficult for the country to move forward without Justice.

Prof. Paramọlẹ admonished judges to have the fear of Allah and deliver justice with fairness.

"Those of you who are just and fair when delivering  Justice, on the day of resurrection, you shall ṣee the face of almighty Allah", he said.

The Chief Judge of the State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, ìn his address,  assured the people of the State of improve performance ìn the new legal year.

He said inspite of the burning of Igbosere high court by Endsars protesters, Lagos judiciary is back on it's feet and poised to perform better ìn the new legal year

At Christ Cathedral Church Marina, where the Christian Judges attended service, the Lord Bishop of Awori, Dr. Akin Atere has called on all Judges in Lagos to be diligent in carrying out their duties even I the face of adversity. 

The bishop made these assertion during the Church service to commence the celebration of this year's legal year on Monday. 

In his sermon, Bishop Atere said that 

Although there is nothing to celebrate because of the level of sin that have become like a virus i.n our lives, God had forgiven never the less.                                                      What about abuse of corrupt practices by lawyers? Seeking of unnecessary adjournments, application to delay the duration of cases, attempts to bribe judges to pervert justice or bribe court clerks to remove sensitive information from case files, or to refuse to list a case on a cause list? What about connivance in doctoring the wishes of a deceased after his demise? Many times lawyers are found falsifying or doctoring documentary evidence, so many evil things we do because of money or fame.

If we are to open the book of the law for some of out judges, like the Israelites of Nehemiah's time, we would either cry, lament or cry for joy.But for some of us, because of 'What will you give me?' have been fond of delivering judgments in cases already considered in courts of concurrent jurisdiction. Taking bribes for favourable judgments. What about tactical delay or frustration of cases by not allowing parties proceed to the substantive matter, because we have been mobilised? 

In some cases judgment depends on how much in your purse, your position in government and in society. Favouritism, tribalism, nepotism and self-interest almost taking over justice, equity and fairness. I can go on and on. 

There is going to be God's judgment for all our insincerity, perversion of justice and for all devices on the bench and the bar. Are we no longer the voices of the voiceless? Are we no longer the defender of the cheated? No longer the peacemaker of which we are ordained to be? 

Brethren, the soul of Nigeria is in your hands. Whatever happens in and to Nigeria God will ask you, because experience has shown that you determine almost everything in this country.You are the preachers and interpreters of Nigeria's Bible called the Constitution. 

We are all your congregation, whatever you say the Constitution says, is what the Constitution says. 

How many of us are clean? only few of us are not guilty, because if all of us

The repair, restoration of this country starts from the Bar and Bench because everything stops on your table. If you decide today that Nigeria will prosper, not even the devil can change your statement, because you statement, your word is authority.