The mission to enlist every necessary backing and support of stakeholders towards actualizing his vision of restoring the integrity of the Judiciary of Kogi State, took the Ag Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Josiah Joe Majebi, to seek the royal blessing of the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland, HRM, Alhaji (Dr) Ado Ibrahim, yesterday at the Azad palace, Okene.
The Ag CJ. used the opportunity to ask the royal father to help him appreciate the governor of the State, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for demonstrating readiness to help achieve his desire to turn around the fortune of the state judiciary for effective justice delivery.
Justice Majebi who made the official visit to the place of the Ohinoyi with an entourage comprising some members of his recently inaugurated Council of Judges minced no words in appreciating the governor’s support and asking the royal father to convey same to the governor.
“I want to ask your majesty to help me thank His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, for supporting my vision of restoring the integrity of Kogi State Judiciary as he has so far demonstrated readiness to back us to achieve this vision” the Acting CJ.requested the nonagenarian.
Recalling that His Excellency’s forfeiture of some of his busy schedules to personally administer oath of office on him in Lokoja was the first indication of how the governor valued the judiciary and its present leadership, his lordship noted that an appreciation of such gesture and commitment by the state government would further strengthen the long existing harmonious relationship with the exercise arm of government and attract more favourable results to the Judiciary of the state.
He. Further disclosed that the state government’s interest in seeing Kogi State Judiciary regain its lost glory and integrity lies in the governor’s promise to lend all required support that the institution needed, both humanly and materially, to fester an enduring administration of justice in the state.
The Ag. CJ had earlier sought the Ohinoyi’s royal blessing and support stating that the traditional institution was key to justice delivery as he reiterated the Council of Judges’ resolve to instill discipline and diligence in the administration of justice in the state. While taking pride in the quality of Judges in the state, he said the Council would not condone frivolities on the part of litigants and their representations but ensure that justice is served to all categories of citizens and residents of the state fairly without fear or favour.
He therefore said his visit was part of his mission to secure stakeholders’ involvement in joining the state government and the Judiciary to attain his vision and those of his brother judges to make Kogi State Judiciary the best in the country.
The Hon. Ag. CJ also used the opportunity to eulogize His Royal Majesty on the roles he has been playing to ensure peaceful and prosperous coexistence amongst his subjects as a father and noted in particular that long before he became the Acting CJ, the Ohinoyi has been supporting him with prayers and well wishes.
Reacting to the Ag. CJ, the royal father admonished him to continue being a good ambassador of Ebiraland and stressed that Judges were vicegerents of God on earth who must ensure that justice is delivered to the people without sentiments because nothing could be done about their judgements when pronounced.
While assuring the Ag CJ of his support and prayers, he said as a good student of the history of the Roman empire and writing in Latin, he pray that God
blesses Kogi State Judges with the right wisdom of writing uncontestable judgments just as he expressed confidence in the Ag. CJ to turn the fortunes of the State judiciary around.
“As a student of history and Latin and reader of a lot of books on the Roman empire, I know judgement delivery requires the knowledge of the profession and the art of good writing of judgements. As you have said that you and your colleagues are determined to excell, may God Almighty help you to achieve that with the required wisdom of writing and delivering good judgements that would not be contested” he said.
Saqeeb Saeed,
Chief Information Officer Kogi State Judiciary