Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State says good
governance is impossible without a courageous and strong judiciary.
Speaking
at the swearing-in of there new Justices of the State High Court, a Judge of
the State Customary Court of Appeal and a Permanent Secretary and
Solicitor-General in the Ministry of Justice, Oshiomhole said “I am sure I
speak the minds of the Edo people when I say the Edo state judiciary has never
been involved in any of those controversies that we read about across the
country. I shows your leadership style and how that has impacted positively on
the conduct of our judicial officers”.
He
noted “the way you identify young men and women that we have just sworn in as
Judges is a bold statement about your style and your respect for merit,
fairness and justice. I am not responsible for the appointment of these judges.
The appointment of judicial officers should not be determined by the vagaries
of politics”.
The
Governor commended the individual qualities of the appointed judges expressed
optimism that their appointment would further enrich the Edo State judiciary.
‘‘I want congratulate all of you and wish you all the
best. He added’’
To
the newly appointed Permanent Secretary, Oshoimohole said ‘‘we cannot sustain
development if we do not have an effective ministry of justice. ‘You are
professional head of the ministry of justice and you are taking over a place
vacated by a hardworking lady who has been made a judge”, He added.
Responding
on behalf of the newly appointed judges, Justice Osaretin Uwuiegbe, thanked the
governor for the confidence reposed in them and assured that they would
dispense justice without fear or favour.
The
newly appointed judges are Hon. Justice Nogi Imoukhede, Rita Ifijeh, Victor
Oviawe and Stalla Uwuigbe. While the new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of
Justice is Mr Oluwole Iyamu.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole of
Edo State has again tasked the police to unmask the killers of his Principal
Private Secretary, Comrade Olaitan Oyeride, saying if a
Governor can’t get
justice, then the ordinary man has no hope of getting same.
While receiving the new
Commissioner of Police, Mr Foluso Adebanjo in his office, Comrade Oshiomhole
said: “I cannot pretend, I remain aggrieved and I believe it’s a shame, a
national embarrassment that a Governor can’t get justice. If a Governor can’t
get justice, what is the hope of a tomato seller, what is the hope of a
road-side mechanic, what is the hope of an okada rider?
“The Police will not rest, I
will not rest until the Police get the killers of Olaitan.”
The governor noted that the police as law enforcement officers must
recognise that they have a duty to protect the citizens.
He said: “all of us must recognise that we are trustees of the Nigerian
people. We must earn the position that we are privileged to occupy. Anywhere I
see a police officer, I will keep saying it, you must produce who killed
Olaitan and explain why they bungled the investigations.
“I have said it to the IG, I have said to the President and if I have
the opportunity I will say it to the UN’’.”
The Governor explained that his insistence on the Police to produce
Olaitan’s killers is to entrench the rule of law, noting that “if the rule of
law collapses, even men in uniform can’t walk free because those outside
uniform are more in numbers. So when they submit to arrest, it’s because in
their sub-consciousness, they recognise that the state exists and that the
instrument of the state is a responsible police force. So help me tell the IG
that I still renew my demand that he has to produce those who killed Olaitan.”
The Governor however noted that the Police is providing invaluable
services to the country, saying the failure of a DIG will not stop him from
relating with the Police as an institution.
