.. FIDA want more female judges
.By Gbenga Sodeinde Ado Ekiti
The Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, has described the high Court complex built by former Governor Ayo Fayose in Ado-Ekiti as “a hybrid of absurdity", saying it was not designed for judicial purposes.
The new Ekiti State High Court complex which had gulped several millions of Naira was one of the major projects of the Fayose which he commissioned amidst pomp and pageantry in May this year.
Fayose named the complex after the pioneer Chief Judge of Ekiti State who is now the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaiye.
The CJ explained that defective manner the new court complex was constructed was the reason why it had not been put to use
since it was inaugurated five months ago.
The Chief Judge spoke on Tuesday at a special court sitting to mark
the commencement of the 2018/2019 Legal Year of Ekiti State Judiciary
held at High Court One.
A special church service had earlier been held at the Cathedral Church
of Emmanuel (Anglican Communion) to herald the beginning of a new
legal year which was attended by the governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; the
deputy governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi; his wife, Margaret; traditional
rulers, judges, lawyers and judiciary workers.
The Chief Judge called on Fayemi to reconstruct the new High Court
complex for the state Judiciary to put it into use for smooth
dispensation of justice.
Justice Daramola said: “Since the creation of Ekiti State on 1st
October, 1996, the Judiciary has suffered acute shortage of court
halls and office accommodation.
“It is thanks to Mr. Ayodele Fayose’s administration that the problem
is largely solved now with the construction of the Justice Ademola
Ajakaiye House.
“As laudable as the new building is, it I still in a way, a hybrid of
absurdity. In its present state, it can’t properly and comfortably
function as court house as it was not properly designed for that
purposes nor was it designed for administrative purposes.
“That of course is why we have not been able to put it into use since
that building was commissioned earlier in the month of May this year.
“Our appeal now goes to the current administration of Dr. John Kayode
Fayemi to come to our rescue in reconstructing the interior of the new
building to enable us put it into appropriate use.”
Justice Daramola also advocated a better funding of the Judiciary for
that arm of government to remain truly independent and better perform
its constitutional roles.
The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Olawale
Fapohunda, advocated the support of the Bar to fight crime in the
state and ensure that criminals are tried and convicted for the crime
they commit.
At the church service, Anglican Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Rt. Rev.
Christopher Omotunde, called on the concerned authorities to provide
judges and other judicial officers with adequate security.
He explained that one police orderly given to each judge for
protection are not enough because of the sensitive nature of their job
describing such police orderlies as “mere decoration.”
The bishop urged judicial officers to be above board, fearless and be
guided by the fear of God in the discharge of their duties.
Addressing the gathering, Fayemi urged the cooperation of every arm of
government to make Ekiti fulfill the purpose for its existence.
Similarly, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA)Ekiti State Branch has appealed to Governor Fayemi to consider more appointment of female judges in the state .
The FIDA chairperson in the state Adefunke Anoma explained that Ekiti State have eleven judges State as at present out of which only one of them is a female.
Anoma who noted that base on this reason, Ekiti is due for appointment of more female judges, however pleaded with the Governor of the state to look into the matter.
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