A former commissioner for justice and attorney general, Mr. Adebayo Mutalubi Ojo, has revealed that late former governor Abiola Ajimobi gave the judiciary in the state full independence to carry out its duties.
Mutalubi, in a statement sighted by OYOINSIGHT.COM, described the leadership qualities of the late Ajimobi as a stellar one which residents of the state appreciate daily.
He noted that between 2003 – 2011 when the PDP governed the state five high court judges were appointed while Ajimobi’s first tenure appointed 11 high court judges.
The statement read: “Oyo State citizens and residents are daily appreciating the sterling leadership qualities of Senator Abiola Ajimobi. May Allah continue to forgive his shortcomings and grant him aljannah fridaus. Ameen.
“For 8 years that the PDP was in power in Oyo State between 2003 to 2011, a total of 5 High Court Judges were appointed in Oyo State.
“Between 2011 to 2015, the first term of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, the State appointed and sworn into office a total of 11 high court Judges in 2 batches of 6 and 5 respectively.
“During the second term between 2015 to 2019, 2 more High Court Judges were appointed while 3 Judges were also appointed and sworn into the newly created Customary Court of Appeal , Oyo State.
“You may ask me the reason for that great feat, it was due to non-interference at all by the executive during the processes of the appointment.
“Senator Abiola Ajimobi was fond of telling us ( members of the Judicial Service Commission) then that, ” you JSC people , please have fear of God and ensure that you appoint to the Bench men and women of impeccable character and integrity only” . And to God be the glory, we duly delivered on our mandates.
“Let me also that we removed the ceiling that limited the maximum number of Judges in Oyo State judiciary to 30 and amended the law to make the minimum to be 30 and unlimited maximum depending on the financial muscle of the state.
“We also increased the judicial divisions in Oyo State from the hitherto Ibadan, Oyo, Eruwa, Ogbomoso and Shaki by creating new divisions at Igbo-Ora, Moniya, Iseyin, Kishi and Orile -Igbon. Unfortunately, only the Moniya Judicial Division is yet to take-off.
“Provided that there is non-interference from the executive and if there is harmonious working relationship between the Judiciary and the Executive without compromising the independence of the judiciary in recognition of the doctrine of separation of powers, appointment of Judges in any state should be a seamless process.
“I wish Oyo State Government and her Judicial Service Commission a hitch-free and a most successful exercise.”
