The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Kazeem Alogba has charged the 18 newly-appointed magistrates in the state to raise the bar of justice, noting that they are joining the bench at a time when the reputation of the judiciary system in Nigeria is almost at its lowest ebb. Justice Alogba pointed out that the magistrates were appointed based on merit and emerged through a competitive selection process, enjoining them to dispense justice with fairness.
During the swearing-in of the 18 magistrates on the premises of the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission in Ikeja, Justice Alogba stated, “The positions to which you have been appointed are highly competitive; but my joy is the fact that you have all come in on merit. I am very proud to say none of you who have been appointed today scored less than 70 per cent. The records are there.”
Addressing the newly-appointed magistrates, the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), warned the magistrates that they are going to come under severe pressure from family, friends, acquaintances, and even people who do not know them and advised them to show the sterling qualities that earned them their appointment.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Judicial Service Commission, Mrs Olubukola Salami, said the swearing-in of the 18 magistrates “symbolizes a significant milestone and the profound commitment of this administration towards a qualitative judiciary and justice sector.”
The magistrates were admonished to dispense justice to all and sundry without fear or favor and without ill will or affection. With this call, it is expected that the newly appointed magistrates in Lagos State would use their position and influence to restore the people’s faith in the Nigerian justice system.
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