We’ll Stamp Out Corruption, Uphold Rule Of Law, New CJ Vows

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

New Lagos Chief Judge, CJ, Justice Opeyemi Oke on Friday vowed to stamp out corruption in the state judiciary and uphold the rule of law.

Oke, who was sworn in as CJ by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, vowed that the Lagos judiciary, under her, would uphold rule of law in interpreting laws, stamp out all forms of official corruption and ensure speedy dispensation of justice, as well as improve public access, transparency and accountability to boost confidence of the public in the judiciary, among others.

She said she would key into the vision of the governor whom she described as a performer and a big dreamer, to transform the State Judiciary.

Justice Oke was earlier sworn-in as the CJ in acting capacity on September 25, 2017 after the retirement of former Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade on September 24, 2017. Her swearing-in as the substantive CJ, however, followed the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and confirmation by the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Speaking at the event, Ambode unveiled plans by the state government to establish a designated Commercial Courthouse with the overall objective of ensuring speedy resolution of disputes as well as drive commerce and enhance the ease of doing business in the State.

Th governor called for more reforms aimed at fast-tracking justice delivery without necessarily compromising the fundamental principle of fair hearing and the rule of law., adding that there was no gainsaying that Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of the country and that it deserved a modern state-of-the-art first class Commercial Courthouse to speedily address commercial disputes in the State.

“We plan to establish a designated Commercial Courthouse with the objective of ensuring speedy consideration of commercial matters. It is hoped that this courthouse will accommodate all commercial related organs of the judiciary in order to drive commerce and improve the ease of doing business,” he said.

The governor said it was gratifying that the State judiciary, since the emergence of Justice Idowu Conrad-Taylor as the first Chief Judge of the State in 1967, had been the only democratic arm of government that had experienced a seamless transition in its leadership.

He said the 50 years of seamless transition aptly qualified the judiciary as one of the most resilient institutions in the State, and congratulated judicial workers and all the past and present Chief Judges of the State for maintaining the integrity of the institution.

The Governor said it was important for Justice Oke to see her appointment as a platform to sustain and improve on the enviable reputation which the State Judiciary had built for itself over the years.

“One area of our Judicial System which I consider as work in progress is the speed of justice delivery in the State. We have made significant progress in this regard with the various reforms that have been initiated and implemented.

“However, I believe strongly that we can do more by stepping up our efforts so that the wheel of justice can roll faster without necessarily compromising the fundamental principle of fair hearing and the rule of law,” he said.

He said owing to the fact that judges in the State faced enormous work load as the State judiciary is the busiest in the country, his administration was determined to seek a significant increase in the number of judges to enhance turn-over of cases in the State.

Ambode also assured of continued cooperate with the judiciary in developing and implementing appropriate strategies to ensure justice is done speedily.