Oyetola swears in Osun Customary Court of Appeal president

– Tasks judge on fairness, justice

Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State yesterday swore in Justice Foluke Eunice Awolalu as the new President of the state’s Customary Court of Appeal.

Awolalu’s appointment came following the death of the former occupant of the office, Justice Gloria Oladoke, in September last year.

Oyetola, at the swearing-in ceremony held at the Multipurpose Hall of the Local Government Service Commission, State Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo, urged Awolalu to continue from where her predecessor left off by upholding “the tenets of her office and discharge her responsibilities with the highest level of integrity, equity, discipline, and justice.”

The governor, who noted that the best way to immortalise the late president of the court is to continue to seek justice for the good people of the state, described the former president of the court as “a Justice of Justices who was an epitome of character, industry, professionalism, and leadership.”

He said with Justice Awolalu’s pedigree as an incorruptible, fearless and courageous judge, he had no doubt in her ability to sustain the existing trust that people have in the judiciary as the purveyor of justice in the state.

“Justice Awolalu is coming into the office at a time when Osun State still remains the most peaceful state in Nigeria and a period when the three arms of government in the state are enjoying peaceful co-existence without compromising their exclusive roles. It is also a time when people have implicit confidence in the state judiciary.

“The judiciary is described as the last hope of the common man. Common men constitute a huge population in the state and the major clients of the customary court and the Customary Court of Appeal by virtue of the fact that they are mostly illiterates, indigent and consequently benefit from native laws, tradition, and customs.

“Both courts handle cases such as marriages, property ownership, inheritance and such laws, which are critical to their lives, are predominantly unwritten and are therefore subject to abuse.

“The President of the Customary Court of Appeal must, therefore, drive its court to perform its role with the highest level of responsibility and fairness to ensure justice and peace for the people.

“I congratulate Justice Awolalu on her appointment as the new helmsperson at this court. By the grace of Almighty God, Justice Awolalu will ably take off where her predecessor left off and end up with grace and in peace,” Oyetola added.

Meanwhile, in her acceptance speech, Awolalu thanked the governor for approving her appointment and promised to justify the confidence reposed in her by being fair and just in the adjudication of justice.

“I see this as an opportunity for me to build and consolidate on the good work of those that have served in this position as I am committed to ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in the administration of justice. I will ensure that every man gets justice in accordance with the constitution and judicial system,” she said.