The Emir of Lafia, Hon Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad I (rtd), has described Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as a pacesetter who revolutionised the nation’s judiciary.
The emir, a former Supreme Court judge, said this when he received Prof Osinbajo in his palace in Lafia, recalling that the Federal Government learnt so much from the vice president as the Attorney-General of Lagos between 1999-2007.
The monarch, while declaring that history would be kind to the VP with the introduction of multi-court house and several reforms that had contributed to the development of justice dispensation in the country, recounted his experience with the vice president when he was the Commissioner for Justice in Lagos.
According to Emir Muhammad, who expressed great delight receiving the vice president in his palace, said many legal professionals would not forget in a hurry how Lagos Judiciary under Osinabjo leadership was used as a yardstick and a pacesetter for all other states, including the Federal Government.
“I feel delighted to receive you in this ancient palace. It has always been my dream in life that one day the Almighty will bring you here. I have a special reason for that. This is because those of us in the legal profession will appreciate the fact that you are a pacesetter as far as today modern judiciary in Nigeria is concerned. Those of us who were close by have noticed that your appointment as the Attorney General of Lagos has brought about the revolution we are having today in the judiciary,” the Emir said.
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The monarch described Lagos under Osinbajo as Attorney General as the rallying point for many legal professionals and many states who were poised at reforming their judiciary sector.
“It is in your coming as the AG that we have the first major review of rules of court. We’ve never had that in Nigeria. These rules of courts became the first of its experience in Lagos then applied at the FCT.
“Your Excellency, it was at your time we had some of these innovations going on that have done so much in the delivery of the justice system and which has made it easy. Because it was during your time as the Attorney-General that we saw for the first time in this country, the coming in of the multi-door courthouse,” the Emir stated.
He expressed optimism that Nigerians would benefit immensely from the wealth of experience of the vice president, declaring that the combination President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo was a clear indication of brighter rewarding future for the nation.
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