Makinde Inaugurates Judicial Service Commission, Charges Body On Speedy Administration Of Justice
By Henry Odeh
The executive governor of Oyo state, Engr Seyi Makinde has inaugurated the Oyo state judicial service commission and charged members on speedy administration of justice in the state. Governor Makinde while delivering his brief speech after the inauguration on Tuesday at the executive chamber of the governor’s office in Ibadan, stated that the beauty of democracy is the application of checks and balance among all arms of government and added that the executive arm plays a vital role of ensuring that the checks and balances are maintained.
He said the establishment of state judicial service commission was in line with Nigeria’s constitutional provision as contained in Section 197 (1)c of 1999 constitution as amended which mandated the commission to maintain independence of the judiciary and speedy administration of justice. The governor stated further that justice delayed is justice denied adding that when cases drawl in courts for lack of enough judges to administer the cases it usually leads to temptation for wrong scheming which may hand justice to the guilty. He said “for the benefit of the none legal minds, we have heard before, the legal maxim that justice delayed is justice denied which basically means, if a wrong is not corrected within a reasonable time it may well not be corrected at all.
“The Bible also has a version of this saying that when a sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. “These two sayings emphasized the importance of not just dispensing justice but being fair in a timely manner.
“A situation where cases drag in court because there are not enough judges to hear the cases is an aberration and a gift to the guilty.” The commission consist of the Chief Judge of Oyo state, Justice Muktah Abimbola (chairman), Mrs Medinat Olufunke Akani (Secretary), members include the Attorney General/Commissioner of Justice, Oyo State, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, President, customary court of appeal, Justice Eni Esan, Mr Kehinde Alagbe Akinwumi (Esq), Mr Yusuf Olatunji Ogunrinde, Mr Lateef Adetunji Adedigba, Mr Adedigba Wahab Adebanji He urged the commission to be maintain the commission’s integrity in promotion and discipline of judicial and non judicial staffs adding that the commission should endeavor to work closely with the Oyo state house of assembly.
