Justice Subulade Yerima, the newly-confirmed Chief Judge of Oyo State, has vowed to make the state judiciary the pride of Africa, by restoring its glory.
Justice Yerima stated this shortly after her confirmation as the substantive Chief Judge of the state by the Oyo State House of Assembly on Wednesday.
Yerima had been in acting capacity since January 16, 2023, when Justice Muntar Abimbola bowed out of the Bench.
The confirmation of the appointment came at the plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon. Abiodun Mohammed Fadeyi.
The Chairman Committee on Public Petitions and Judiciary, Akeem Mustapha, had recommended the confirmation of Yerima, after which the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanjo Sangodoyin, adopted it and seconded by Adebayo Babajide, before it was adopted by the entire House.
In their separate comments, lawmakers representing Ibadan North II and Ibadan North East II state constituencies, Hon. Babajide and Hon. Olusola Owolabi described Yerima as “a woman of integrity whose appointment would foster rapid transformation of the judicial system in the state.”
Addressing members of the Assembly, Justice Yerima said she would do her best to ensure a new judiciary in the state.
“A greater challenge has been vested on me, to make Oyo State judiciary a pride of South West, and Nigeria. I will also ensure digitisation to ensure effectiveness in the Oyo Judiciary system.
“We will also ensure infrastructure in our courts, because there are a lot of things that need to be done. So, we will make sure that everything is put in place and ensure that Oyo State is the pride of Africa.”
She also said there would be a paradigm shift on the dispensation of justice in the state.
The CJ said further: ‘’I have passion, dreams and hope for a new judiciary in Oyo State.
“There will be a new Oyo State Judiciary in terms of digitisation, infrastructure, justice delivery and so many other things.
“I will restore the glory of Oyo State Judiciary as the pride of the West and Africa as it is used to be in the 60s.”
Justice Yerima was born on September 8,1958 into the illustrious family of Akinloye of Oje-Itutaba Ibadan, in Ibadan North East Local Government.
She attended Omolewa Nursery and Primary School, Oritamefa, Ibadan from 1962-1969 and St Margaret Girl’s Secondary School, Ilesa from January 1970 to July 1974.
She also attended Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan from 1974 – 1975. She did her A-level in The Polytechnic, Ibadan from 1975 to 1977.
The chief judicial officer was in University of Ife (now O.A.U) Ile-ife, from 1977 – 1981, where she obtained her Bachelor of Arts in English and Philosophy, before proceeding to the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom (September 1981-December 1983) for her L.L.B.
She proceeded to the Nigerian Law School, Lagos for her B.L (Barrister at Law) and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1985. She served her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme in the Faculty of Law, University of Ife, as an Assistant to the Faculty Officer and in the Law Reporting Section, from 1985 – 1986.
Her lordship began her legal career in Kaduna State, with her pupilage at Baba Amartey and Co. (Barristers & Solicitors) and went on to set up her own flourishing Law office/Chambers – Yerima & Co. (Barristers & Solicitors) also in Zaria, Kaduna State, from May 1986-April 2001.
She was sworn in as a Judge of the High Court of Oyo State in June 2001. Yerima has attended several international and national conferences.
She has served on several committees, one of which is –Chairman, Sub-Committee on Non-custodial Sentencing, Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Committee, Oyo State.
Yerima enjoys reading, travelling, and organisation of social and administrative functions. She is also an active participant in church and evangelistic activities.
