By Olayinka Ilori
The Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has reaffirmed his commitment to the elevation of young, competent and experienced lawyers to the position of the bench to champion judicial reforms and enhance prudence dispensation of justice in the State.
Governor Fayemi reiterated his commitment on Monday when the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Ado-Ekiti Branch, Mr Adeyemi Adewumi, led other executive members on a courtesy visit to Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti.
Dr Fayemi mentioned that it was better to have young lawyers who were youthful and competent in character appointed into the position of the bench to enable them have ample chance to advance in their career to the highest level of their profession.
The Governor, who disclosed that four vacancies were expected to be available this year for the appointment of new judges, said processes of appointment of lawyers into the position would commence with the exit of the State Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola from service in the end of May.
Encouraging NBA to charge their female lawyers to express interest in becoming judges, Governor Fayemi said he was determined to have young judges who had the best chance of becoming Supreme Court Judges and not ones who would retire ten years after serving as a judge in the State.
According to him, “I am sure you know that we are going to have four vacancies in the judiciary alone this year, to that extent those among among you who are female and have requisite experience which is ten years’ post-call and of course person of character and competent because I am determined to have judges who have the best chances to get to supreme court not judges who will retire after ten years of service.
“Very soon that process will commence with the exit of the Chief Judge in the end of this month and then hopefully result in the kind of people that we will like to see, competent female lawyers in character and youthful, dynamic lawyers who have the greatest chance to advance in their career to the highest level in the profession.”
He, however, described as unfortunate the closure of courts in the nation as a result of the on-going strike of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) which he attributed to a misconception and misunderstanding of Governors’ stand, adding that governors are not averse to judicial autonomy but rather committed to a sustainable modalities of operation.
Governor Fayemi hoped that parties involved would be able to reach a reasonable conclusion soon to give room for administration of justice without interference.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Association, Mr. Adeyemi Adewunmi had commended the Governor for advancing processes that would in ensure that a reasonable conclusion is reached concerning the on-going JUSUN strike.
He later solicited for government’s assistance in the construction and completion of the association legacy project.
