Be accountable for decisions you take —Cleric tells lawyers

He said, “Your task this year is to begin to build a judiciary that is so responsive to the cries of litigants than it has been before. All staff of the judiciary, from the Chief Justice to the clerk, must work as a team because justice is a cooperative exercise. It takes the effort of all persons to get the job done.

“My Lords, all of us who sit on the throne of justice, I want you to know that there is one person called the Righteous Judge who is going to look at our papers, what we have done, whether rightly or wrongly. Citizens express dissatisfaction from the perceived lethargy in the system.

“My Lords, there must be accountability for the decisions we make as judges, as magistrates, as registrars, and other judicial officers. We should not fear public criticisms. I know Governor Amosun does not fear public criticisms, that’s why he is able to do the little that he has done.

“All I want to counsel as you go to this legal year, you must go back to the basics. Timeous responses to search for justice, vigilance than we have been before, redoubling our dispensation of justice this legal year and help in removing all clogs in the dispensation of justice in our courts.

“Lawyers know whose court they can do one thing and whose court it’s not allowed. They’ll tell you ‘don’t go to so-so-so person’s court; don’t try it with Justice so-so-so.’ Because they know that what one judge will not take, they will take it to the other judge. Let’s do what is right, be it here or there because good will always be good and bad will always be bad. We all must bring justice down to the doorstep of the poor and the oppressed because you are the last hope of the common people.”

The state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, in his remarks commended the judiciary for supporting his administration.