I’m Determined to Redeem the Abused Image of Lagos Judiciary, Says Chief Judge
Lagos State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Opeyemi Oke, has reiterated her determination to redeem the abused image of the Lagos State Judiciary.
In achieving this, Justice Oke has urged litigants and lawyers, to partner with her administration in the fight to stamp out corruption in the State Judiciary.
The Chief Judge said this last Thursday, at the official presentation of anti-corruption crusade flyers by the National Convener, Fight Against Corruption in the Judiciary, Mr. Bayo Akinlade.
Receiving the initial 20,000 copies of the anti-corruption flyers from Akinlade, Justice Oke observed that the materials will not only help Judiciary staff on their job, but also serve as an attitudinal guide to them in their personal lives.
She bemoaned the unethical and unprofessional practices among some legal officials, saying that the unpatriotic activities of these few officials, is bringing the whole Judiciary to disrepute.
The Chief Judge said her resolve is to make the Lagos State Judiciary a reference point for discipline, professionalism, rule of law and the promotion of all ethical values guiding the Judiciary.
Oke regrettably noted that the acts of misconduct of few individuals, has implanted a dent on the image of the Judiciary, thereby creating an impression that all judicial officials are corrupt.
“I however must say that the times have changed, and the happy days of the few unscrupulous elements who continue to soil our image, are over. I am determined to redeem the abused image of the Lagos State Judiciary. Any judicial officer found culpable will not be spared, and shall be shown the exit swiftly.
"It is regrettable that the corrupt practices of some few individuals, whom I call unscrupulous elements, continuously soil the image of the Judiciary, whereas the entire Judiciary is termed corrupt by members of the public.
"Upon my assumption of office as the Chief Judge of Lagos State, one of my primary concerns was and is still, to ensure a progressive upgrade of the Judiciary, especially in the area of stifling corruption in the Judiciary.
"To this end, I am committed to ensuring that this development is brought to fruition through concerted effort, which has been and will continue to be made.
"It is regrettable that the image of the Judiciary has been tarnished, by the notion that the Judiciary has been beaten by the corruption bug. Admittedly, the acts of misconduct of a few have implanted a dent on the image of the Judiciary creating an impression that all judiciary officials are corrupt", the Chief Judge said.
She said that the fight against corruption in the Judiciary, needs the collaboration of all concerned stakeholders, in order to restore confidence in the country's judicial system.
While calling on litigants and lawyers to forward complaints against judicial officers to her office, she warned that they must ensure that complaints are substantiated and devoid of malice.
She noted that the war launched to fight corruption in the Judiciary will not be easy, but it will be worth every amount of energy put into it.
Justice Oke also charged Judiciary officers, to continually discharge their duties with an utmost sense of honesty, in strict adherence with the core values.
Responding, Bayo Akinlade assured the Chief Judge of his support to help sanitise the State Judiciary, saying that the flyers he printed was to sensitise judicial officials to shun corruption.
In his brief remarks, the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu Branch, Mr. Levi Adikwaone, said the Bar has a duty to eliminate corruption in the Judiciary.
Adikwaone added that, the initiative by the Chief Judge had emboldened every lawyer to the cause of the fight against corruption, and gave assurance of their support to ensure its success.