Makinde’s administration will continue to support judiciary, says Oyo deputy gov

The deputy governor of Oyo state, Alhaji Abdul-Raheem Adebayo Lawal has reassured that the Makinde’s led administration will continue to support judiciary in all aspects.

Lawal, who gave the assurance on Thursday at the valedictory session held in honor of late Hon. Justice E.C.A Lufadeju said that Governor Seyi Makinde is ready to cooperate and support the judiciary especially on their welfares and magistrate officers across the state.

He stated that with the support of the governor, the High Court Complex is being renovated, adding that the chief judge is on top of the matter and has been meeting with Oyo government to move the judiciary forward.

He equally noted that as the sitting deputy governor of Oyo state and one of them, he can’t close his eyes but will always do whatever in his capacity to make the judiciary forward and Oyo state government will not close its eyes on their welfare.

The deputy governor, who said the bar would have to do a lot further stated that Oyo state is lagging behind in the appointment of judges from the state at federal level, encouraging the judges from Oyo state to be up and doing and to also represent the state at federal level.

He noted that the Judicial Service Commission of Oyo state and all relevance body must brace up and come up with a strategy to redeem our judges by taking cases, writing judgement, all these paper work, among others.

“Oyo state judiciary is one of the best in time past and one of the earliest judiciary in Nigeria. I don’t want you to slack back and allow others to take the lead. So, I urge you to brace up through digital and analog system and I promise you yo to give my own full support.

“And I Know that His Excellency, the Governor of Oyo state, Seyi Makinde is also paying full attention on your welfare.”

While commiserating with the family of late Justice Lufadeju and members of the judiciary, the deputy governor said valedictory session is a celebration of service to the judiciary, urging others to also emulate her conduct on the bench.

He said that Justice Olufade is an embodiment of judiciary without patronizing and it is a statement of fact whom everyone need to emulate her conduct on the bench and outside judiciary.

“You must go home consoled and know that Olufade lived a good life and being a judge, and her career as a judge, there has not been any dirt. To what I know of her, without any blemishes through her career. You just be consoled.

“Once again, this is a testimony that this solemn occasion is worth while with the calibers of people present today.

“So, on this note, on behalf of, His Excellency, Seyi Makinde, and the good people of Oyo state, I commiserates with the family, chief judge and all judges of High court and all senior advocates and I pray God will grant her eternal rest.

“Every living soul must taste death. So, it shouldn’t be surprising to us. I am happy that she lived a good life and I thank you all.”

Earlier in her remarks, the Chief Judge of Oyo state, I.S Yerima said the late Justice career started at the Ministry of Justice, Oyo State, as a State Counsel and she rose through the Ranks to become the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). Due to her diligence, hard work, kind heart and meticulousness, she became the Solicitor General and Director-General in Oyo State during the regime of Colonel Chinyere Ike Nwosu, the then Ministry Administrator of Oyo State.

Honourable Justice E. C. A. Lufadeju was appointed to the Higher Bench of the Oyo State Judiciary in 1995, alongside her brother Judges; Hon. Justice Badejoko Adeniji, Hon. Justice Mistura Oladeinde, Hon. Justice Mistura Bolaji-Yusuf, (Now Justice of the Court of Appeal), Hon. Justice Owoade (Rtd. Justice of the Court of Appeal), Hon. Justice Akinteye (Rtd. First President Customary Court of Appeal), Late Hon. Justice Akinola and Hon. Justice M. L. Abimbola (Immediate past Chief Judge of Oyo State).

His Lordship served in different judicial divisions in Oyo State. She sat at the High Courts of Eruwa, Saki, Iyaganku and the High Court Complex, Ring Road from where she retired from High Court 2 in year 2010.