Obaseki seeks to strengthen state’s judicial system

Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo said no meaningful development would be achieved in the state without strengthening the judiciary.

Mr John Mayaki, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor said in a statement on Saturday in Benin that Obasaki made the remark at a workshop on judiciary held in Benin.

According to Obaseki, strengthening the judiciary is sine qua non for economic development.

He said “we cannot pursue the goals we have set for ourselves without strengthening the administration of the judiciary.

“Repositioning Edo and make it an economic hub will be difficult if we do not have legal system to protect property right and ensure contracts and things the law can do for us.”

The governor added that the state would uphold the independence of the judiciary as evidenced in the over 600 per cent increment in 2017 appropriation bill for the sector.

He explained that the essence of the judiciary workshop was to acknowledge the challenges confronting the sector in the state and to proffer solutions to them and come up with a master plan.

Mayaki stated that Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana, at the workshop, with the theme “State of the Judiciary and the Administration of Justice in Edo State” advocated proper remuneration for judicial workers to build confidence in the nation’s judicial system.

Falana said election petition cases should be handled by justices of the various High Courts in states.

He said restricting the functions of state chief judges to only administrative functions was unhealthy for the system.

Also, a former governor of Edo, Prof. Osariemen Osunbor, said there was need for government to publicise the revised laws of the state.

Osunbor said it would keep the people abreast with the judicial system.