Fashola, CJ admonish new judges on diligence

Governor Babatunde Fashola

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, and the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips, on Tuesday admonished six new judges in the state judiciary to be diligent and steer clear of corruption.

The duo gave the charge at the swearing-in of the new judges at the state secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

The newly inaugurated judges, two of whom were formerly magistrates and four practising lawyers, joined 50 others on the bench.

This brought the total number of judges in the state to 56, comprising 40 females and 16 males.

The new judges are Justices Folashade Bankole-Oki, Michael Savage, Oyindamola Ogala, Ganiyu Safari,  Sedoten Ogunsanya and Wasiu Animahun.

Fashola urged the judges to be diligent and dispense justice with dispatch in order to avoid the public’s loss of confidence in the judicial system.

“I have every conviction that they will justify our resolve by discharging the duties of their offices exceptionally,” the governor said.

Philips expressed confidence in the new judges. She vouched for their “professional competence and integrity” and urged them to discharge their “sacred constitutional duty without any fear or favour”.

She however warned them “to shun any act of corruption” and urged them to be disciplined, failure of which she said they would be sanctioned for.

“I am therefore urging you to take your oath with seriousness because you are expected to be disciplined, incorruptible and generally express maturity in all aspects of your lives or you will be sanctioned,” Philips said.

She said the appointment of the new judges was to enhance “speedy dispensation of justice”.

Earlier, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, who presented the judges for inauguration, said their appointments were in line with sections 271(2) and 290 of the Constitution which provide the requirements for appointment of judges