Employ more Judges to hasten justice dispensation in Oyo - Archbishop Akinfenwa tells Makinde

BY OLUSEYE AROWOLO, NIGERIA.

There is need for Oyo State government to employ more judges into the Judiciary to hasten justice dispensation in the state. The Archbishop of Ibadan Province and Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, Anglican Communion, Nigeria, the Most Revd. Joseph Akinfenwa stated this in his sermon at the 2024/2025 New Legal Year and thanksgiving at the St. James's Cathedral, Oke Bola, Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday.

Governor Seyi Makinde was represented by the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin.

Addressing the array of dignitaries including the Judges led by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Iyabo Yerima;, the state Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Abiodun Aikomo; Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Magistrates, judicial workers, Chairmen of the Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Saki branches of the Nigerian Bar Association (Ibrahim Lawal, Olajide Olanipekun, Mrs. O. Olatubosun, and Adediji Oke respectively. among others,

Rev'd. Akinfenwa explained that the workload on the 21 Judges in the state was too heavy and appealed to Governor Makinde to employ more Judges to ease the burden and create room for better, speedy dispensation of cases as well as reduce prison congestion.

According to the cleric, Lagos State government has employed more Judges, Lagos State has 75 Judges, what is delaying Oyo state which has only 21 from employ more Judges. "Something is happening in our courts. It seems as if only political cases can ever finish on time. With the recent experiences of how political cases are speedily dispensed with and heard to judgment stage, I wish the same speed can be extended to civil and criminal cases. This last year, with respect to some political cases that were taken to the Supreme Court and judgment delivered speedily, it makes me to wonder if this is the same Nigeria. We should be able to score the Nigerian judiciary high of procedures, and of speedy completion of court cases. "Court cases are not academic exercise. They are about the people; they are about lives. When the judgment is of little or no use to the parties, what manner of judgment is that? Many times, cases drag for so long that by the time judgment is delivered, the accused has already spent his jail term in prison custody. But what of if the accused is declared innocent? Rev'd "We have said it times and times without number that Nigerian judiciary should embrace electronic recording to make proceedings faster. Again, our Judges should curtail the excesses of lawyers who seek endless adjournments to make more money into their pockets or to frustrate their opponents", he said. Dwelling on the duty of the judiciary to the oppressed, the Archbishop said "We have also been told that the law is blind. To say the law is blind means that the law is not biased. It means that there is no favouritism in law. Therefore, throughout 2024/2025 Legal Year, the law must not be blind to the legitimate yearnings of the common man. Our judiciary must respond to the cry of the oppressed, and both the Bar and the Bench must really strive to be the last hope of the common man". Akinfenwa urged the judiciary to give attention to the issue of integrity, noting that, "he who lives in glass house should not throw stones. And he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. The judiciary must live above board. Judges must refuse any form of influence from politicians. Responding on behalf of Governor Seyi Makinde, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Mr. Debo Ogundoyin, said the government was committed to the welfare of its citizens of the state and the sanctity of the judiciary. . .His words; "His Excellency is steadfast to supporting the justice sector. The state government has recently effected a substantial 300% increment in the Judges' salaries and allowances. The governor always ensures that the rule of law is upheld without fear or favour. The government places premium on just and equitable society. 'Also, we are taking steps to implement the Supreme Court's judgment on the local government autonomy.' Ogundoyin said. The governor used the forum to advise the judiciary to embrace technological advancement to enhance efficiency and access to justice.

He however gave assurance that the state government will continue to see to the welfare of Judges and provide technological supports for them to enhance dispensation of justice.