The governor told the new judges that all eyes would be on them to dispense justice speedily, fairly and impartially, while also living above board in all circumstances.

The new benchers consisting of nine females and five males are; Justices Olubusola Adeyemi Okunuga, Adenrera Olayinka Adeyemi, Olufolake Olufolasade Oshin, Oluwatoyin Atinuke Odusanya, Olumuyiwa Oluseun Martins, Ariyike Mutiat Ipaye-Nwachukwu and Babatunde Oladapo Kalaro.

Others are Omolade Jadesola Awope, Akinkunmi Olusegun Idowu, Olalekan Ayodeji Oresanya, Mujibat Iyabode Oshodi, Ismail Olalekan Ijelu, Mosunmola Muyibat Balogun and Mathias Oluwole Dawodu.

Speaking during the swearing-in of the 14 new judges at the Lagos House Ikeja, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the judicial arm of government was an essential element for the proper and effective functioning of any democratic society, noting that without the honest interpretation and application of the laws of the land, society would be open to chaos.

He said his administration remained committed to supporting the judiciary to fully discharge its constitutional functions and responsibilities, adding that his government was greatly fortunate to be an inheritor of a great tradition of judicial reforms and excellence in Lagos State.

“The standards of behaviour and practice expected of Judges are among the highest and most stringent in the land. All eyes will be on you to dispense Justice speedily, yet fairly and impartially. You will be expected to live and act above board in all circumstances.

“In your hands lies great power: the power to punish wrongdoers and free the innocent, the power to send a strong message to society about the supremacy of the rule of law, and to contribute to the growing body of jurisprudence in the country.

“This power must be wielded with the utmost sense of care and responsibility. You must not only be efficient and fair but you must also be seen to be efficient and fair by all,” the governor advised.

While urging the judges to be committed to their constitutional duties, Governor Sanwo-Olu said: “Judges who take their work seriously can do a lot to rebuild the confidence of citizens in the systems and institutions of our nation. A properly functioning judicial system will also go a long way in nurturing an environment that enables business and investment, and by extension, economic growth, and prosperity. When society prospers, there is less room for poverty to drive people to crime and criminality.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu disclosed that his administration had commenced the full digitisation of courts to ensure speedy administration of justice and therefore charged the new judges to make every effort to acquaint themselves with the ongoing reforms being pursued at sub-national and federal levels; be enthusiastic about their use of new technologies and strive to always be forward-looking and innovative in their thinking.

He said: “We have now commenced the full digitisation of our Courts’ system in Lagos State. The first phase, comprising 10 Courtrooms, is nearing completion. This digitisation will help speed up court processes, enable the easy documentation and publication of accurate court transcripts, and also provide high-speed internet access for the use of judges and other judicial personnel.

“Also, very importantly, we are deploying infrastructure to enable the virtual hearing of cases. This is one of the reforms whose necessity has been accelerated by the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. We are all witnesses to how the lock downs and restrictions occasioned by Covid-19 negatively impacted the administration of criminal justice.

“Technology has offered a way out, and we are enthusiastically embracing this option. With the infrastructure we are putting in place, judges will be able to sit virtually, ensuring that there are no delays, while also helping manage the costs that traditionally went into ensuring that suspects are conveyed to and from Courts.

“In addition to the pandemic, last year’s wave of arson and destruction that targeted critical government facilities, including our Courts, also demonstrated to us the importance of quickly transitioning from manual recording systems to digital ones, which allow for easier and more secure storage of documents and records.”

The governor also commended the National Judicial Service Commission for adding to the list of 12 prospective judges earlier sent.

Speaking earlier, Lagos State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) said the appointment of the new judges was necessitated by the retirement of some judges in the course of the year.

In his remarks, the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Kazeem Alogba, advised the new benchers whom he said were chosen based on merit to operate with the fear of God.

“You are welcome to the judiciary of excellence. It is a family of integrity and a family of discipline. You have all been called up to duty on merit and integrity, please do not disappoint us,” he appealed to the new Judges.

Justice Alogba also advised the families of the new judges to leave them to work and to continue to pray for them so that they would not falter.

Speaking on behalf of the new 14 Judges, Justice Olubusola Okunuga appreciated the state government for the confidence reposed in them and promised that they would make Lagos State Judiciary proud by discharging their duty without fear, favour or affection.

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The governor, who promised that his administration would not be deterred or shy away from its responsibilities to make life more comfortable for judges in Lagos State, reassured members of the judiciary that his government would continue to accord them the necessary support required to discharge their duties diligently to the people of the state.

Speaking during the swearing in of a 51-year-old Deputy Chief Registrar (Special Duties) Lagos Division, Mrs. Olubukola Florence Aigbokhaevbo and 40-year-old legal practitioner, Mr. Rahman Adesola Oshodi, as High Court Judges in Lagos State, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the judges earned their nominations and appointments to the High Court of the state based on their sterling credentials and experience in their respective areas of engagement.

He said: “We have enjoyed tremendous support from the judiciary led by the Chief Judge who constantly brings forward leadership that is second to none. And the least we can do is to continue to ensure that we give that arm of government all they require to continue to administer justice, to be the voice for the voiceless and to continue to let our citizens believe that Lagos State Judiciary is working well for all of them.

“We will continue to ensure that we give our judicial arm of government all they require to continue to do what they know best, which is to serve our citizens. Our government realises and appreciates the services and sacrifices of our judges, even at these difficult times as they continue to respond to the needs of our citizens.

“I want the new justices to use this opportunity to reassure our citizen and the judiciary that you would continue to remain an example of equity and fairness, doing your work with integrity at the highest level. Those are the things that delight us and what we want to hear. I wish the Lagos judiciary all the very best.”

Speaking earlier, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), said swearing in of the two judges was one of the constitutionally recognised functions of Lagos State governor to oil the wheels of the judiciary.

He said the newly appointed justices were the two that top the selection process.

In his remark, the Chief Judge of Lagos, Justice Kazeem Alogba, said the occasion was another testimony of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to the judiciary and administration of justice in the state.

He informed the governor that seven justices would retire this year and therefore stressed the need for their replacement.

Giving a vote of assurance on behalf of the newly sworn in judges, Justice Olubukola Aigbokhaevbo assured that they would administer justice with integrity and fairness in order to take the judiciary to higher heights.

Justice Aigbokhaevbo, who commended Governor Sanwo-Olu for his efforts and passion for justice in the state, promised that they would not disappoint the governor and people of the state.

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This is the submission of some lawmakers at the Lagos State House of Assembly during plenary on Tuesday, while discussing a bill sent by the Attorney General of the State, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo.

The Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said there was need to differentiate the various types of cults in the country.

“There is need to differentiate the types of cultism in the country so that we won’t solve one problem and create another. We need to look at the way and manner weapons are used. The existing law should be seriously looked into,” he said.

Obasa committed the bill to the House committee on Judiciary, which was directed to report back to the House in three weeks.

In his contribution, the Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, representing Ikorodu I, said that sponsorship of cultism could not be captured under the bill.

He said some of the cult groups had their sponsors.

Agunbiade who said that the jurisdiction of the offences could not be limited, referred to Section 12 and said that there must be a prove before suspending any student found guilty of cultism.

“Suspension of students without having been proven guilty is already a punishment.

“There must be a prove before suspension. The suspected student should be investigated before suspension. Parents of students who engage in any cult group should also be liable,” he said.

Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti-Osa Constituency 02 said that the bill was presented as if it was a new bill, saying it  should be an amendment bill.

He added that the scope of the bill should be expanded, adding that it fell short of its own intendment.

“Cultism is what we need to guide against with the information we are hearing on terrorism,” he said.

In his view, Rotimi Olowo representing Somolu I explained that cultism had gone beyond schools environment.

“This should not be limited to schools. It is supposed to extend to the society,” he said.

He cited the example of Aye Fraternity eight days celebration held in his constituency that resulted in the destruction of property.

Olowo posited that some of the police officers were even in cult groups.

According to him, the bill will put an end to the various cults.

Kehinde Joseph posited that the bill was not comprehensive enough.

“If you see what is going on especially when this pandemic started, female beggars, who sat along the road were impregnated and they gave birth to children. Who are the people that impregnated them? Some of the guys did so. I will also support that proposition that parents of those found guilty of cultism must be you punished,” he said.

Yinka Ogundimu, representing Agege I,  emphasised that cultism  was very rampant in primary schools.

He said while looking into punishment of those found guilty, rehabilitation of the minors who belong to the group should be looked into.

He said that students in tertiary institutions, who might be found guilty must be prosecuted.

Desmond Elliot, representing Surulere I, opined that the  bill was not robust enough to cater for  the larger society.

“The bill looks childish to me. The bill is supposed to take care of orientation for the children,” he said.

David Setonji, representing Badagry Constituency 2, said that the issue of cultism was a major challenge in the implementation of laws.

“We have laws and we need to empower the security agencies to implement the existing laws,” he added.

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The annual lecture with the theme, “Press Freedom In the New Social Media Age: Implications and the Laws,” will hold at the Muson Centre, Onikan, Lagos, on Tuesday.

A statement issued and signed on Sunday by the chairman of NAJUC, Peter Fowoyo, said the lecture is expected to review some of the serious challenges that hinder press freedom in a democratic society such as Nigeria’s.

He expressed the need to guarantee press freedom under the Nigerian laws.

He said until the press was totally free that the nation could have sufficient peace, stability and progress and industrial revolution.

“The new social media has come to stay, yet, media practitioners/ journalists are not taking full advantage of it leaving the space for non-professionals not just spreading fake news but reaping heavily from it,” he said.

Apart from Onigbanjo, former Pro – Chancellor, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomosho, Oyo State,  Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), will also grace the occasion.

He will chair the event while the royal father of the day is Oba Abdul- Fatai Aromire, the Ojora of Ijoraland.

Former online editor, the Nation, Mr. Lekan Otunfodunrin; founder of Centre for Law and Civil Culture, Mr. Abdulganeey Imran, and a Lagos based legal practitioner, Mr. Bolanle Olugbani, are the discussants of the theme.

Other events include the commissioning of the refurbished Press Centre at the Court of Appeal, Lagos Divison, Igbosere, Lagos, award ceremony on individuals who have distinguished themselves in the sphere of their endeavours; launching of NAJUC Lagos Branch Website and free medical services for members of the association.

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