By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Governor Abiola Ajimobi, on Monday asked the judiciary to speed up the process of dispensing justice so as to decongest the courts in and across the country.
The governor made the call while speaking at the swearing in ceremony of the pioneer President of the Oyo State Customary Court of Appeal, Justice Solomon Akinteye held at the Governor’s office, Agodi Ibadan.
According to Governor Ajimobi, there is the new for the pioner President of customary Court of Appeal in the state to immediately generate new rules of practice and procedures towards enhancing speedy delivery of justice.
Describing the Customary Court of Appeal as a creation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), making it a superior court of record, Governor Ajimobi said Section 3 of the Customary Court of Appeal Law, 2008 stated that the court shall be a superior court of record to which appeals from customary courts shall lie in civil proceedings.
“With the establishment and full operation of this court, it is envisaged that the regular courts will be decongested with matters whose jurisdiction is covered by the relevant customary courts.
Customary law, in its modern day application, will complement our existing laws in appropriate cases” he said. .
The governor added that “the court, whose President is being sworn in today, will serve as the major vehicle to blend our appropriate customary laws and practices with constitutional validity. I urge you to immediately generate new rules of practice and procedures for speedy delivery of justice.”
While expressing the hope that the giant stride which he said his administration had attained would also streamline the adjudicating process in the customary courts.the governor urged the leadership of the state’s judiciary to set new rules of practice and procedure for the Customary Court of Appeal, its judges and the registry to enhance effectiveness and efficiency in the judicial process.