The Oyo State judiciary marked the start of the 2023/2024 legal year on Monday with a church service at the Cathedral of St. James, Oke-Bola, Ibadan.
The Chief Justice, Iyabo Yerima, praised Governor Seyi Makinde for his support and efforts to improve the state judiciary.
Ms Yerima said that the judges in Oyo state were well taken care of and productive. She also revealed that eight more judges would be appointed soon to speed up the dispensation of justice.
She said, “Judges are being well taken care of in Oyo state. That is why we tend to be more productive. However, it is not that we were not productive before. It was because we didn’t have enough judges.”
She disclosed that the situation would improve by appointing eight more judges.
”Since we are, in this respect, expecting a positive reply from the National Judicial Council, which is coming for inspection in a week or two, having many more judges will fasten the dispensation of justice,” Ms Yerima said.
She noted that the past legal year witnessed a high level of disposal of cases, despite the fact that many judges were assigned to election petition matters in other states.
“The number of cases disposed of is very many. We recorded a high level of disposal of cases for the legal year. It means we are working, in spite of the fact that since February, the majority of us were posted out on election petition matters in Taraba, Nasarawa and Sokoto states,” Ms Yerima said.
The Bishop of the Ibadan Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Joseph Akinfenwa, urged judges and lawyers to avoid delaying justice.
“It is imperative that when you delay justice, you have denied it. So, whether backlog or no backlog, you need to follow the example of what is being done concerning the international passport matter,” Akinfenwa stated.
He added, “If judges can do this and remove the delay so that the aggrieved persons will not just walk out on the court or judges because of the delay of justice, things will be better.”
Peter Obi can’t work with Tinubu’s govt — LP
The Labour Party leadership has stated that its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, will not entertain the possibility of working with President Bola Tinubu’s proposed government of national unity.
This stance was officially articulated through two separate interviews with key LP figures – Obiora Ifoh, the National Publicity Secretary of LP, and Kehinde Edun, the National Legal Adviser of LP.
The party’s announcement comes just days after Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State and LP’s presidential candidate, made critical remarks about President Tinubu during an appearance on Arise TV’s ‘Morning Show.’ Obi raised concerns about the authenticity of Tinubu’s academic records at Chicago State University.
During the interview, Obi asserted that leaders who falsify their credentials or age cannot be trusted to govern effectively and are not suitable to lead the people.
The LP’s resolute position signals its unwavering support for its presidential candidate and its commitment to maintaining its independence from political alliances.
He said, “We are at the point where we are challenging the process and that has to come to a logical end before any other thing. These are parts of what makes a nation. The processes through which people assume office are far more than what they do thereafter. It is important that people come in through the right door and not just jump in through the window and keep saying ‘Let’s move on.’
“The issue of qualification is the issue of leaders making statements and doing things that are honest and truthful. This is an issue of honour and integrity.
“If you look at what is happening in Nigeria today, there are so many issues of certificates, age, and all sorts of one falsification or the other with the leaders. There is no way people can do this and be able to do the right thing. That means they are living a falsified life.”
