The Ogun State Chief Judge, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu has urged newly
appointed Chief and Senior Magistrates in the State to resist the
temptation of abusing judicial powers in the course of dispensing
justice.
She gave the urge at the Judiciary Complex, Kobape Road, Abeokuta, while
administering the oath of office on 6 newly appointed Chief and Senior
Magistrates to the Ogun State Judiciary, imploring them not to be
carried away with enormous powers which various laws have conferred on
them.
Those appointed among the Chief Magistrates include; Mr. Awofeso
Ireti-Olu Babatunde, Mr. Dipeolu Dehinde, and Mrs. Osinbajo Moriyike
Oluwabunmi while Mr. Shodeinde Ogooluwa Adekunle, Mrs. Kolawole
Ogunbowale, and Mr. Solana Shodeinde Abayomi were appointed as Senior
Magistrates respectively.
She enjoined them, to be honest in their dealings, hardworking,
diligent, time conscious, reliable, and to deal with citizens and
litigants who appears before with human face.
“Judicial Officers have a constitutional duty to serve this nation as
competently, diligently, fairly, professionally and speedily as is
humanly possible all things considered, as there are no sacred cows and
that includes the judiciary.
Judicial Officers are public servants whose salaries and other
entitlements are paid by this nation whose majority citizens live in
abject poverty and judicial independence goes hand in hand with
accountability”, Dipeolu said.
She said that they were subject to criticism because it was through it
that they were able to correct their faults and shortcomings, noting
that it would also provide them better service to the public.
“Indeed, our conduct must, therefore, be professional and above reproach
at all times, judicial Officers must earn the trust, respect, and
confidence of the people they serve”, Dipeolu added.
She, therefore, appeals to not only newly appointed Chief and Senior
Magistrates but all Judicial Officers throughout the court structures in
the State to always remember that theirs was a power to be exercised
with utmost fairness.