Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Monday commended the State Judiciary for rising up to the challenges posed by COVID-19 in the justice sector.
Sanwo-Olu gave the commendation in his address at a church service held at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, Lagos to mark the commencement of the Lagos State Judiciary 2020/2021 Legal Year.
The Governor, who was represented at the service by his wife, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, noted that despite the disruptive impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, the State judiciary continued to dispense justice through innovative measures.
He said “I want to particularly commend the State judiciary for rising up to the challenge in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic. The courts continued to dispense justice in very innovative ways despite the ravaging impact of the pandemic. This is a testament of the commitment by our judges and magistrates to the effective and efficient dispensation of Justice”.
In his remarks, the Chief Judge, Justice Kareem Alogba, pledged that Judges and Magistrates of the State Judiciary will continue to dispense justice without fear or favour and in accordance with the law.
“We judges and magistrates in Lagos judiciary have always followed the path of God and will always apply the law as it is and dispense justice to the best of our ability. May the Lord lead us on the path of integrity and lead us aright”, he said.
Alogba sought the cooperation of his colleagues, management staff, stakeholders and members of the bar to ensure effective service delivery in the State, assuring the public that justice will be served as and when due.
In his sermon, the Diocesan Bishop of Lagos, Rt. Rev. Humphrey Olumakaiye admonished judges and magistrates to continue to uphold righteousness and justice while overseeing disputes brought before them.
Bishop Olumakaiye remarked that the judiciary has a role to play in salvaging Nigeria from the ills that have besieged the country and, therefore, must live up to its mandate of upholding justice at all times.
In his words: “You need to show that Justice is about the people and not about you. Justice and righteousness are closely linked and complement each other. You must not allow your moral integrity to be compromised”.
“To salvage this country which has been besieged by many ills, such as insurgency, kidnapping, corruption, armed robbery, child abuse and others, it is vital that you are upright and live a righteous life. You must serve God and mankind by upholding justice at all times”, he added.
Earlier at the Special Service held at the Central Mosque Lagos to herald the New Legal Year 2020/2021 of the Lagos State Judiciary, the Chief Imam of Oluwole-Ogba, Imam Sa’adallah Bella, who delivered the lecture, admonished judges and lawyers to be honest and truthful when discharging their duties, saying there can be no peace in the country if the people lose faith in the judiciary.
He said, “The judiciary is the pillar upon which the country stands, if it is shaken the country will collapse”.
The Grand Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheik Sulaimon Abu-Nollah, in his supplication at the event, prayed that Allah, in his infinite mercy, grant Judges and Magistrates in the State the wisdom needed to dispense justice fairly.