Gov. Abiodun urges judiciary to uphold justice, accountability

By Saheed Adigun

Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, on Monday, charged the state judiciary to uphold justice, fairness, accountability and the rule of law, to sustain public confidence in democracy.

Abiodun gave the charge at a thanksgiving service marking the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year of the Ogun State Judiciary, held at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta.

He said the peaceful resolution of disputes remained essential to law and order, adding that the three arms of government shared the responsibility of protecting the rule of law.

“When justice is reflected, citizens have confidence in the state. Where the law is faithfully observed, society enjoys stability. When justice is accessible, grievances are channeled away from violence and self-help, towards peaceful and lawful resolution,” he said.

According to Abiodun, law and order cannot be sustained by the executive alone. The governor stated that while the legislature must enact laws, the executive implement them faithfully, and the judiciary interpret and apply them.

He described the constitutional balance among the three arms as one of democracy’s greatest safeguards against the abuse of power. He therefore urged public institutions to ensure that the exercise of power remained within the bounds of justice, fairness and accountability.

The governor particularly charged judicial officers to remain committed to protecting citizens’ rights and resolving disputes in accordance with the law.

He described impartial and transparent institutions as critical to strengthening public trust in democracy. Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving access to justice, citing the state government’s advocacy for the establishment of an Abeokuta Division of the Court of Appeal.

According to him a significant number of appeals handled by the Ibadan Division originated from Ogun State, making a division in Abeokuta both desirable and necessary to bring justice closer to the people,

He added that it would also reduce the burden of travelling to Ibadan and strengthen the administration of justice in the state.

In his sermon titled “Jesus in Your Boat: The Antidote to a Successful New Legal Year,” the Dean of the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta, Ven. Samuel Omidiji, urged judicial officers to allow truth, justice and divine wisdom to guide their decisions.

Omidiji reminded the judges that they were not alone in their responsibilities, saying the ultimate Judge of the universe remained watchful and would grant them wisdom, particularly in difficult cases.

He charged them to walk humbly with God, ensure that truth and justice remained at the heart of their judgments, and avoid unnecessary delays in the administration of justice through undue reliance on technicalities.

The cleric also encouraged legal practitioners to emulate Jesus Christ’s concern for the poor and vulnerable, reminding them that they would ultimately give account of their actions before God.

While praying for a successful legal year, Omidiji urged judicial officers to reflect on the achievements and challenges of the past year and chart a course that would ensure justice for all, irrespective of social status.

The Chief Judge of Ogun State, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, read the only lesson, taken from Luke 18:1-8.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Dignitaries present at the event included Speaker of the House of Assembly Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, Secretary to State Government Mr Tokunbo Talabi, traditional rulers, Heads of security agencies and government officials.

NAN