News

Kwara Gov restates support for judiciary as new legal year begins

Published

3 years ago

January 9, 2024

…CJ commends Gov’s strides in infrastructural devt, seeks more

Joel Ajayi

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (CON) on Tuesday pledged continuous support for the judicial arm of government, including in the area of infrastructural development and welfare.

The Governor said rehabilitation of courtrooms, among other efforts of the administration, will continue within budgetary limits in the new year.

“Our administration will continue to partner with the judiciary to sustain the rule of law, public order, and safety. Along with some other supports that ease the dispensation of justice, I assure you that infrastructural development in the justice sector, including rehabilitation of courtrooms that we have started, will continue within budgetary allowances in the new year,” AbdulRazaq said in a remark at a ceremony heralding the 2024 Legal Year of Kwara State.

“On this day and always, we value your partnership and the alliances that continue to sustain law and order as we mobilise resources for sustainable development and improved wellbeing of the people.”

AbdulRazaq commended the judiciary for remaining steadfast and resolute in the dispensation of justice, congratulating all branches of the State Judiciary on the commencement of another legal year 2023/2024 and saying the event means a lot to the legal community as it does for the rest of our society.

“Without prejudice to the fact that every system is a work in progress, your commitment has helped to strengthen public confidence in the court and reinforce the ideal of the courts as the last hope of the common man. This has profound consequences for law and order, and public safety,” AbdulRazaq added.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim Sulayman, said the administration is committed at all times to the rule of law, which he said is fundamental to justice.

Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Abiodun Adebara, applauded AbdulRazaq for his investment in court infrastructure, welfare of judicial staff as well as strengthening of its manpower to achieve a smoother, quicker and more efficient administration of justice

Justice Adebara added: “Soon after his assumption of duty as Governor of Kwara State, he appointed five new High Court Judges in 2020. In the year 2023, he had equally given his approval for the appointment of six additional High Court Judges in the state. This represents the highest so far at a time in the state. The appointment exercise is ongoing before the National Judicial Council, and I believe that our judicial-friendly Governor will do all that is necessary for the complete actualization of this appointment.

“When this is done, for the first time in the history of the state, it will bring the number of High Court Judges in the state to an all-time high number of 24.

“Coming to the infrastructural development, during the year under review, His Excellency gave approval and released funds for the complete renovation and rehabilitation of the High Court building in Offa Judicial Division. Since the Court was built many years ago, this will be the first effort at renovating and rehabilitating the said Court.”

The Chief Judge announced that 26,533 cases were registered in all tiers of the Court in the state in the 2022/2023 legal year, and commended the bar and the bench for their commitment to improved Justice system.

“The grand total of the cases registered in all tiers of Court in the state in the 2022/2023 legal year just ended is 26,533 out of which 13,720 were decided, leaving 12,813 pending cases at the beginning of the current legal year. The total revenue generated from both criminal and civil cases in all the courts as well as Probate fees in Kwara State in the last legal year as fines and court fees amounted to N83,674,936.86,” the Chief Judge said.

The event was attended by members of the bar and the bench, including serving and retired Appeal Court Justices, retired chief judges, and serving and retired judges.

Speaking on behalf of the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) in the state, Chief Peter Olorunnisola appealed to members of the bar not to do anything that will damage the image or greatness of the judiciary.

In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Ilorin Branch Kamaldeen Gambari and the Chairman of Offa NBA Prince Bashir Ijaiya stressed the need for upgrade of more offices and courtrooms of judges to dispense justice to all manner of people without fear or favour. They also appreciated Governor AbdulRazaq for renovating the High Court Building in Offa — the first renovation to be carried out since the construction of the building in the 1980s.

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Musawa Seeks Broader Significance for June 12

Published

3 hours ago

October 3, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., says June 12 must be remembered as a sacrifice that gave Nigerians democracy, beyond its status as a public holiday.

In a statement signed on Saturday by the Senior Assistant Media & Publicity to the Honourable Minister,Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze Ph.D in Abuja.

Musawa stated this at the national premiere of “MKO”, a film on Chief Moshood Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

She said 33 years after June 12, 1993, many young Nigerians know it only as a holiday, but the film turns it back into memory.

“For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday. This film tells them that our democracy did not arrive by chance. It was fought for. It was defended. It was paid for. This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” the Minister said.

Musawa hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Host, for his participation in the June 12 struggle and paying the price in exile, adding that Nigeria’s creative industry will keep telling the story of its democracy with courage.

“Through film and the creative economy, Nigeria will preserve its history. A nation that forgets its past loses its way to the future. Nigeria has a story and our story deserves to be told,” she said.

Earlier, the director of the investigative documentary, Ose Oyamendan, said the film was in honour and memory of heroes who fought for Nigeria’s democracy.

“There was Hope ’93 and now there is Renewed Hope. There was a man who sacrificed his life so we may have democracy and there is a man who almost lost his life fighting for democracy who is now helping build a lasting democracy.

“There was a great man called Bashorun MKO Abiola and there is now another great man called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Democrats. Nationalists. Nation builders. Leaders of men and women. We must never forget our story. We must always honour and remember our heroes,” Oyamendan said.

Top government officials including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the wife of the President Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chief of Staff to the President Rt. Femi Gbajabiamila, state Governors, members of the National Assembly, Ministers and other distinguished dignitaries attended the premiere.

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