GOV AKEREDOLU SWEARS IN JUSTICE AKINTOROYE AS ONDO CJ

• Prof. Akeredolu, Okorisa Sworn In As Judges

By Ogundele Olanrewaju

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has sworn in Hon. Justice Williams Akinlolu Akintoroye as the substantive Chief Judge of the state.

Governor Akeredolu also swore in the first female Professor of Law to become a judge in Nigeria, Justice Alero Akeredolu, as a Judge of the State High Court and Justice Orimisan James Okorisa as Justice of the state Customary Court of Appeal.

Speaking at the Swearing-In ceremony held at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s office, Alagbaka, Akure, Governor Akeredolu disclosed that the new Chief Judge is reputed to be strict, forthright and decent.

“He was a committed Bar man while in private practice. He served the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in many capacities, even as the Vice Chairman and Chairman, Ondo Branch, respectively.

“He joined the Bench in 2002 as an experienced Bar man. He had seen it all before his appointment as a judge in Ondo State. He is, therefore, a personality not expected to descend into an arena of conflict to satiate pettiness, malice, partisanship and/or greed. He has availed himself, creditably, in these past years. He has earned his respect from his colleagues, staff and litigants,” Governor Akeredolu said.

He said the two new judges are fit and proper persons to be elevated to the Bench, adding that their appointments, as recommended by the National Judicial Council, are based on merit.

He said: “My Lord, Honourable Justice (Prof) Alero Akeredolu, has engaged the profession on three flanks, namely, private practice, law reporting and academics. It is imperative that we also mention the tireless efforts of this passionate advocate on continuing education and mentoring of young lawyers.

“This erudite scholar, until now, was also an active Bar personality at the Premier Bar, Ibadan, in the last 33 years since she became a lawyer at the age of 20 years. She is the first female Professor of Law to become a judge in the country.

“Humble, decent, intelligent, industrious and honest, Justice Alero Akeredolu will make any decent shortlist where merit is the basic yardstick. I am proud of this unassuming lady of uncommon patriotism and dedication to duty. The State stands to benefit from her industry.”

Governor Akeredolu said Honourable Justice Orimisan James Okorisa has practised law from the day of Call to Bar till his appointment as a judge.

He said the new Judge was an effective advocate in the South Senatorial District of Ondo State who handled many cases for the people that he was recognised as the advocate of the masses in that area.

“He was passionate about his practice. He established an impressive private office at Igbokoda. Though still young, he has recorded remarkable achievements in advocacy since 2004 when he became a lawyer. The State is eager to reap, bountifully, from his ebullience and appreciable knowledge of law,” he said.

The Governor charged the new Judges to discharge their responsibilities as judicial officers without let or hindrance from any quarters, saying they must justify the sacred trust reposed in them by the people of the State.

“It is our fervent hope that all the newly sworn-in judges will justify the trust reposed in them. We, on our part, are prepared to support the judiciary as we have been doing since we assumed leadership in the State.

“This administration has never interfered in the affairs of the judiciary in the State. It does not intend to do so till the expiration of its tenure. It will, however, not fail to challenge any act, administrative or judicial decision, which bears the unmistakable imprint of manifest malice, bias, partisanship and/or injustice,” Governor Akeredolu said.