Kogi Appoints New Acting Chief Judge

Kogi Appoints New Acting Chief Judge

By Ibrahim Oyewale

Kogi State Government has approved the appointment of Justice Sunday Otu as the acting Chief Judge of the state following the retirement of Justice Henry Olusiyi as the Chief Judge of state last Monday.

Justice Otu was therefore sworn in by the state Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onoja, yesterday at the Government House in Lokoja, on behalf of the state government.

In his charge to the new acting Chief Judge, the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, enjoined Justice Otu to stand by the words of the National Anthem by serving with faithfulness, loyalty and honesty.

He told the new head of the state judiciary to take the job of the judiciary to the next level by being dedicated to his job and assist the state in its efforts to make a swift administration of justice a top priority.

The governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Onoja, congratulated the new acting Chief Judge, reiterating his administration huge expectations on the new Chief Judge.

According to him, “My Lord is now the alter ego of the third arm of the government of our administration, therefore, one of the chief custodians of the administration of justice, law and order in Kogi State, and luckily, he is a brilliant legal mind coming in with a massive wealth of experience.”

Earlier in his address at the occasion, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ibarhim Mohammed Sani (SAN), described the event as the beginning of another era, as provided in the Nigerian Constitution.

Sani said following the retirement of Justice Olusiyi, whose valedictory session was held, “the constitution contemplates such situation and has provided what should be done where such situation arises.”

The state governor, Sani said, was acting in good time pursuant to the provision of the constitution by appointing Justice Otu to perform the function of the acting Chief Judge as vacuum couldn’t be created as a result of him leaving.

Responding , the new Chief Judge, who appealed for synergy among the three arms of government, said the failure of one arm is the failure of all, hence the need for them to work together for the progress and development of the state.

Otu reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the reform and progress recorded under his predecessor continues for the benefit of the staff and the advancement of the state judiciary.

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