Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has charged members of the bench and bar to recommit themselves to the impartial administration of justice as the state commenced the 2026/2027 legal year.
Makinde gave the charge on Monday at activities marking the new legal year in Ibadan, urging judicial officers and legal practitioners to uphold the rule of law and dispense justice without fear, favor, affection, or ill will.
The governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Barrister Abdulraheem Adebayo Lawal, said the judiciary remained a critical pillar of democracy and must continue to command public confidence through independence, integrity, and fairness.
Lawal, who is a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, said the new legal year offered an opportunity for reflection, renewal, and rededication to the administration of justice.
He commended the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice I. S. Yerima, and other judicial officers for their dedication and sacrifices during the outgoing legal year.
According to him, “The rule of law is not an abstract slogan. It is the covenant that binds the governed and those who govern.”
He stressed that no individual, regardless of status, should be above the law, while every citizen must be able to approach the courts with confidence that their cases would receive fair and impartial consideration.
The Deputy Governor urged the Bench and Bar to resist attempts to manipulate the judicial process through forum shopping, abuse of ex parte orders, and the filing of multiple suits on the same subject matter.
He warned that conflicting orders from courts of coordinate jurisdiction could undermine public confidence in the judiciary and diminish the authority of the law.
Lawal said the new legal year would be conducted against the backdrop of the 2027 general elections, making the judiciary a critical institution in the electoral process.
He urged judges to handle pre-election matters with dispatch, firmness, and neutrality, while calling on politicians and their lawyers to approach the courts in good faith.
He said political contests should ultimately be decided by voters at the ballot box rather than through attempts to manipulate the judicial process.
The Deputy Governor also highlighted proposed constitutional reforms on state police, noting that the development would raise important legal questions concerning fundamental rights, oversight, political interference, and the relationship between federal and state security structures.
He urged lawyers and judges to study the proposed framework in preparation for the legal challenges that could arise if the amendment is ratified by the required number of state Houses of Assembly.
Lawal disclosed that the process for appointing additional judges to the Oyo State Judiciary was at an advanced stage.
He said the appointments, which would be made in accordance with Section 271 of the Constitution upon the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, were aimed at reducing the workload of serving judges and improving access to justice across the state.
He identified the strengthening of judicial divisions in Ibadan, Ibarapa, Ogbomoso, Oke-Ogun, and Oyo as part of the objectives of the appointments.
The government, he added, also hoped to accelerate the trial of awaiting-trial inmates, thereby helping to decongest correctional facilities.
He further reaffirmed the Makinde administration’s commitment to judicial independence, financial autonomy, improved welfare for judicial officers, and investment in court infrastructure and technology.
Speaking at the occasion, the guest speaker and chief Imam of Oluyole Extension, Sheikh Mudashir Bada, emphasised the importance of justice, equity, and fairness to peace and human development.
Bada said justice creates an environment of peace and tranquillity, adding that the fair treatment of people remains central to humanity’s well-being.
He also appealed to Nigerians and political actors to ensure peaceful elections as the country prepares for the 2027 polls.
According to him, politicians seeking elective offices should pursue their ambitions responsibly and avoid actions capable of creating crisis and chaos.
He urged political actors to remember humanity and conduct themselves properly so that peace could prevail in the country.
Meanwhile, the commencement of the legal year, however, was marked by a dispute between the Oyo State Judiciary and the Ibadan branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The NBA Ibadan branch boycotted the Judiciary’s official 2026/2027 legal year ceremony following a disagreement over the exclusion of its chairman from addressing participants at the event.
The branch’s publicity secretary, Raheed Khan, said members unanimously reached the decision at a general meeting held on Saturday.
The NBA described the exclusion of its chairman from the ceremony as a threat to the established relationship between the bench and the bar, arguing that both institutions are co-equal custodians of the rule of law.
It said the annual legal year ceremony should provide an opportunity for accountability, reflection, and constructive engagement on the administration of justice.
The branch consequently organised a parallel legal year ceremony at the Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) Bar Centre on NTC Road, Ibadan, with members expected to attend fully robed in wigs and gowns.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Judiciary proceeded with its own legal year service at the Cathedral of St. James, Oke-Bola, Ibadan, and the Oyo State Judiciary Mosque within the High Court premises, Ring Road.
The disagreement represents a departure from previous legal year ceremonies in the state, where NBA branch leaders traditionally used the occasion to raise concerns and make recommendations on the administration of justice.
Despite the controversy, the central message from the commencement of the new legal year remained a call for the Bench, Bar, and other stakeholders to strengthen the justice system and ensure that the rule of law remains firmly protected in Oyo State.
Packaged by Adekunle Adegboyega
