The Oyo judiciary on Monday in Ibadan kicked off activities to mark the commencement of the 2023/2024 legal year, with the Chief Justice, Iyabo Yerima, saying that judges in the state are well taken care of.

The new Legal Year began with a church service at the Cathedral of St. James, Oke-Bola, in Ibadan.

Ms Yerima, commended Governor Seyi Makinde for “his positive step and role in repositioning the state judiciary.”

Ms Yerima said, “Judges are being well taken care of in Oyo state. That is why we tend to be more productive. However, it is not that we were not productive before. It was because we didn’t have enough judges.”

She disclosed that the situation would improve by appointing eight more judges.

”Since we are, in this respect, expecting a positive reply from the National Judicial Council (NJC), which is coming for inspection in a week or two, having many more judges will fasten the dispensation of justice,” Ms Yerima said.

She pointed out that there has been a great improvement in justice delivery based on reports about the past legal year.

“The number of cases disposed of is very many. We recorded a high level of disposal of cases for the legal year. It means we are working, in spite of the fact that since February, the majority of us were posted out on election petition matters in Taraba, Nasarawa and Sokoto states,” Ms Yerima said.

The Bishop of the Ibadan Diocese of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Joseph Akinfenwa, admonished judges and lawyers against delaying justice.

“It is imperative that when you delay justice, you have denied it. So, whether backlog or no backlog, you need to follow the example of what is being done concerning the international passport matter,” stated Mr Akinfenwa. 

He added, “If judges can do this and remove the delay so that the aggrieved persons will not just walk out on the court or judges because of the delay of justice, things will be better.”

(NAN)