National Wire About Nigerians, Nigerian Business and Other Stories
Tayo Olanipekun
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has sworn-in Justice Opeyemi Oke as the 16th substantive Chief Judge of Lagos State with a call for more reforms in the judiciary to fast-track justice delivery.
During the ceremony on Friday,the Governor said reforms were necessary and would not compromise the fundamental principle of fair hearing and the rule of law as he unveiled plans by the government to establish a designated commercial Courthouse for speedy resolution of disputes.
He said the move would drive commerce and enhance ease of doing business in the nation’s commercial capital.
“There is no gainsaying that Lagos is the commercial nerve centre of the country and it deserves a modern state-of-the-art first class commercial Courthouse to speedily address commercial disputes in the State.
“We plan to establish a designated commercial Courthouse with the objective of ensuring speedy consideration of commercial matters. It is hoped that this courthouse will accommodate all commercial-related organs of the judiciary in order to drive commerce and improve the ease of doing business,” governor Ambode said.
He described the swearing-in ceremony as an affirmation of the belief of his administration in the rule of law, and the importance of the judiciary to the democratic system.
Lagos State judiciary, since the emergence of Justice Idowu Conrad-Taylor as the first Chief Judge of the State in 1967, had been the only democratic arm of government that had experienced a seamless transition in its leadership, said Ambode.
Governor Ambode also said the new position was a confirmation of Justice Oke’s competence, experience and character to preside over the sacred temple of justice and urged the CJ to see her appointment as a platform to sustain and improve on the enviable reputation which the State Judiciary had built for itself over the years.
The Governor and the Chief Judge are fellows of the Fulbright Scholarship of the Hubert Humphrey Fellowship from the United States of America.
He said his administration was determined to seek a significant increase in the number of judges to enhance turn-over of cases in the State and assured of continued cooperation with the judiciary in developing and implementing appropriate strategies to ensure justice is done speedily.
In her vote of assurance, Justice Oke thanked governor Ambode and other stakeholders for the confidence reposed in her, saying that she would key into the vision of the governor, whom she described as a performer and a big dreamer, to transform the State Judiciary.
The CJ vowed that the Lagos judiciary, under her watch, would uphold rule of law in interpreting laws, stamp out all forms of official corruption and ensure speedy dispensation of justice, as well as improve public access, transparency and accountability to boost confidence of the public in the judiciary, among others.
Justice Oke was earlier sworn-in as the CJ in acting capacity on September 25, 2017, after the retirement of former Chief Judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, on September 24, 2017. Her swearing-in as the substantive CJ, however, followed the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC), and confirmation by the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Photo Caption:
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (right), congratulating the new Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Opeyemi Oke (left) shortly after her swearing-in at the EXCO Chamber, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Friday, October 20, 2017.
