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| Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke |
The Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke, has sworn in four Presidents and two members of the Customary Court, urging them to “do substantial justice to parties without recourse to the rigours, harshness and technicalities of the common law.”
According to the Chief Judge, Customary Courts form the aspect of the formal justice system closest to the grass roots and are available to over 70 per cent of the people of the state who reside in the rural areas.
Justice Oke urged the new customary court judges, sworn in on Monday, to carry out proceedings in a “simple and uncomplicated manner,” noting that “judicial function plays a fundamental role in a constitutional democracy.”
She said, “One of your core functions is the interpretation of the prevailing customary law of the area which is binding on parties. Thus, the proceedings in your courts should be simple and uncomplicated.
“There is a need for you to conduct yourselves in a manner that is seen to be above board as the proverbial Caesar’s wife. Any standard that is less than that which is prescribed is one which will be frowned upon and I make bold to say that any infringement shall attract the sanction of the Judicial Service Commission.”
The Executive Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, Mrs Olubukola Samuel, advised the new judicial officers to maintain a high standard of professionalism in the dispensation of justice to all manner of people without fear or favour.
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According to the Chief Judge, Customary Courts form the aspect of the formal justice system closest to the grass roots and are available to over 70 per cent of the people of the state who reside in the rural areas.
Justice Oke urged the new customary court judges, sworn in on Monday, to carry out proceedings in a “simple and uncomplicated manner,” noting that “judicial function plays a fundamental role in a constitutional democracy.”
She said, “One of your core functions is the interpretation of the prevailing customary law of the area which is binding on parties. Thus, the proceedings in your courts should be simple and uncomplicated.
“There is a need for you to conduct yourselves in a manner that is seen to be above board as the proverbial Caesar’s wife. Any standard that is less than that which is prescribed is one which will be frowned upon and I make bold to say that any infringement shall attract the sanction of the Judicial Service Commission.”
The Executive Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission, Mrs Olubukola Samuel, advised the new judicial officers to maintain a high standard of professionalism in the dispensation of justice to all manner of people without fear or favour.
In this article: