GOVERNOR Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, on Thursday, swore in no fewer than 239 Justices of the Peace (JP) to assist government in the dispensation of justice and maintenance of peace in the state.
In his charge at the ceremony held at Secretariat, Ibadan, Ajimobi, represented by his deputy, Mr Moses Adeyemo, charged those conferred to promote peace and delivery of untainted justice in the country.
Among those conferred with the honour were state deputy governor, Mr Moses Adeyemo; Secretary to the state government, Mr Olalekan Alli; Chief of staff, Dr Gbade Ojo, Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Communication and Strategy, Mr Yomi Layinka; Chief Imam of Ibadan, Sheikh AbdulGaniy Abubakri, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Oyo State Chapter, Benjamin Akanmu.
Speaking further, Ajimobi charged the Justices of Peace to live up to their responsibility to preserve the peace, suppress riots and affray, disperse all disorderly and tumultuous assemblages.
He however noted that the Justices of the Peace were judicial officers, whose appointments do not guarantee any immunity on actions taken or remunerations.
In his remarks, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Seun Abimbola in the state, charged the JPs to see to peace at the grassroots, settlement of rifts and ensuring unity among communal dwellers.
“The Justice of the peace is an unpaid office, undertaken voluntarily and sometimes more for the sake of renown or the crave to be associated with the reign of peace in the community. And as such the concept of the justice of the peace is a form of selfless social service,” he said.
Also, the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General, Mr Adetunji Gbadegesin, assured of government’s collaboration with the JPs in their new crusade of maintaining peace in the society.
“While, the courts and the law enforcement agencies are trying their respective best, all hands ought to be on deck to ensure that normalcy and rule of law percolates down to the grassroots,” he said.
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