Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has sworn in the state’s new Acting Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, while assuring of accelerated judicial reforms in the state.
Obaseki, speaking last Friday at the ceremony that took place at New Festival Hall of Government House, Benin, stated that his administration’s achievements in the past six and a half years were chiefly facilitated by an atmosphere of order and sanity guaranteed by a proactive judiciary, which continued to promote a just and fair society.
He noted that his administration believed that the judiciary remained the bastion of democracy, which prompted investments in the judiciary and judicial system, to ensure a conducive work environment for judicial officers.
Edo governor said: “Our achievements in these past years were facilitated by the atmosphere of order and sanity guaranteed by a proactive judiciary, which has continued to promote a just and fair society.
“In the last six and a half years, the executive arm of the Edo State government has tried to maintain a cordial relationship with the judiciary, and this has paved the way for the sustenance of law and order and respect for the rule of law in the state.
“We are conscious of the need for better welfare for judicial officers in Edo State and have started that process. We have built the first set of judges’ quarters, to ensure that the judges are guaranteed better and safe living conditions, while they discharge their responsibilities.
“We have also ensured that judicial officers working outside the capital city are provided with better courthouses and living accommodation to carry out their duties in a decent environment.”
Obaseki also assured that his administration would continue to advance and support reforms in the judiciary and respect its independence, to ensure the judiciary lived up to its mandate of upholding justice in Edo state.
He said: “For us, how do we re-enact our judiciary to an era that produced great jurists like Justice Obaseki, Justice Akpata and Justice Uwaifo? To achieve this, we must insist on hiring judicial officers mainly based on merit. The new acting chief judge has the responsibility to continue and sustain the laudable reforms of the outgoing chief judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice Joe Acha.
“For us in Edo State, we will continue to accelerate reforms and help in the digitisation of records, processes and procedures. My aim is that before we leave office next year, we will connect all our high courts in Edo State to one central system. Before the end of this year, we would have laid fibre optic connection to all the high courts in Edo State.
“I will like to see an improved welfare package for our judicial officers, as the work which has started in repositioning our magistracy should be accelerated. I also take it that we can continue to count on the judiciary under your leadership, as we advance reforms to maintain law and order, working hard to make Edo State great again and making it the best place to work and live in Nigeria.”
The acting chief judge thanked Edo governor and the government of the state for honour to serve Edo and its people.
