Banner Online News

Governor Okowa in white, with the new judges and their spouses.

DELTA State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has urged Judges to avoid granting frivolous injunctions and frequent adjournment of cases, even as he apologised to members of the state judiciary for government’s inability to provide them with vehicles as requested.
The Governor made the call and handed down the apology Wednesday (28/03/18) while conducting the swearing-in ceremony of five new judges, namely: Mrs Celestina Dafe-Idise, Egwu Joe esq, Dr. Anthony Ezonfade Okorodas, Mrs. Blessing Oghale Ideh, and Mr.  Edun Ajueyitsi Joshua as Justices of the Delta State Judiciary.
The Governor said, “One of the things you (Judges) must guard against is the frivolous use of injunctions and the frequent adjournments of cases, which not only leads to delay and congested courts but has also contributed to negative perception of the Judiciary in the court of public opinion.”
While he argued that such bottlenecks were inimical to the development of the judicial system , he said “Judges have an obligation to see to it that justice is not only served but, also seen to be served, so that the Judiciary does not lose the confidence of the public from which it ultimately derives its authority,”
Governor Okowa admonished that “as Judges, fairness, equity and justice must be your watchword at all times, you must maintain a high level of focus, discipline and personal probity.”
While congratulating the Judges for their appointments, the Governor asserted, “as you begin your journey as privileged members of the Bench, I expect you to continue in the same spirit of hard work, excellence and forthrightness that earned you this appointment, this is not the time for you to rest on your oars, your job as judges will further challenge your intellect, demand greater resourcefulness, task your creativity, stretch your patience, encroach on your time and test your value system.”
The Governor disclosed that the five Judges were “screened, selected and appointed in line with laid down procedures for such appointments as enshrined in Section 271, sub-section (2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and by virtue of this constitutional provision, a judge shall be appointed by the Governor of a state on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council; the NJC considered and deliberated on the nominations and, in their wisdom, considered and approved the persons sworn-in as Judges.”
Governor Okowa the apologised the non release of vehicles for judges, attributing it to the financial fortune of the state that had been down, but confirmed however, that the state’s revenue is improving and so promised to see to it that judges have their vehicles before long.
Mrs Celestina Dafe-Idise who responded on behalf of other newly sworn-in Judges, thanked God and in particular Governor Okowa for approving their appointments, as well as all those who made it possible for them to emerge as Judges, assuring that she and her colleagues would carry out their duties without fear or favour but, in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the country.