Ogun Chief Judge, Others Demand For Judicial Autonomy

Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu and other stakeholders in the judiciary have demanded for the immediate implementation of judicial autonomy law,as passed by  the State House of Assembly

The Chief Judge  was speaking during the 2021 Ogun State Judges' Conference with the theme; ‘The Challenges of the Judiciary in Contemporary Nigeria’, at the Judiciary Complex, Kobape near Abeokuta, the state capital

She underscored the need for both the executive and legislative arms of government to collaborate,by ensuring that Governor Dapo Abiodun gives  priority to signing of the State Judiciary Fund Management Bill granting autonomy to the judicial arm which the lawmakers passed three months ago in June  

She noted that as the guardian and protector of fundamental human rights, as well as the arbiter of disputes among all arms and levels of government, the jurdiciary ought to be independent to perform its functions without fear or favour.

Guest speaker at the conference Dr. Muiz Banire, a lawyer pointed out that challenges confronting the contemporary judiciary requires deep understanding the importance of the concept of the independence of judiciary, 

The former National Legal Adviser of the All Progressives Congress APC stressed that only the presence of an independent judiciary would ensure the confidence of the public in the administration of justice.

His words,"Indeed, the doctrine of separation of powers is well entrenched in the constitutions of many nations of the world, and the reason being that powers should not be concentrated in one organ of government, so as to avoid arbitrariness and tyranny".

Also speaking as one of the discussants at the conference, a prominent legal practitioner, Mr. Ebun Olu-Adegboruwa identified judiciary as the most accessible branch of government to the common man in a democratic system of government in the country  

He added that being the stabiliser in a political system wherein it plays a divine role as the guardian and custodian of the constitution, the role of the Judiciary could not be underrated, noting that it is the only arm vested with the power to checkmate the other arms.