We are committed to welfare of judiciary in Oyo, says Makinde

• Appoints five judicial officers as the sector gets additional N6b in 2022 budget
• Governor mourns Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, yesterday, said his administration was committed to the welfare of all serving and retired judicial officers and workers in the state.

The governor, while speaking at the flag-off of the 2021/2022 Legal Year, held at the Cathedral of St. James The Great, Oke-Bola, Ibadan, commended the judiciary for supporting his administration in the actualisation of the judiciary sector version of the Roadmap for Accelerated Development of Oyo State, 2019-2023.

A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Makinde was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Olubamiwo Adeosun.

He said that his administration had secured the approval of the National Judicial Council (NJC) for the appointment of five judicial officers, adding that four of them are for the High Court, while the remaining one is for the Customary Court of Appeal.

He maintained that the government is standardising the selection and recruitment process in the judiciary to sanitise the sector, adding that the Oyo State House of Assembly had already approved the appointment of Justice Moshood Abass as the President of the Customary Court of Appeal.

He said that the judiciary would be getting unprecedented capital budget inflow in the 2022 budget, as an additional N6 billion capital projects had been included in the budget.

In his sermon, the Lord Bishop of Ibadan Diocese, the Most Revd. (Dr.) Joseph Akinfenwa, admonished Nigerians to always put hope in God at all times despite the prevailing challenges of economic hardship, security tension and experiences of hopelessness across the country.

MEANWHILE, the governor has expressed his condolence to the Muslim Ummah in Ogbomosoland and Oyo State over the demise of the Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, Dr. Ashafa Abdulyekini Sanusi.

Makinde, who described the death of the Islamic cleric as a huge loss to the state, equally condoled with the Soun of Ogbomosoland and all sons and daughters of the historical city.

A statement by Adisa quoted the governor as saying that the late Chief Imam had played his part well in the development of the state and the growth of Islam.

He prayed to Allah to grant him Aljanah Firdaus and also grant the Muslim Ummah, the family of Chief Imam Sanusi and the entire Ogbomoso community the fortitude to bear the loss of the revered Islamic leader.

He said: “I received the news of the death of our Baba, the Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, Dr. A.Y. Sanusi with total submission to the will of Allah.

“His death is a huge loss to the state, because he contributed immensely to the growth of Islam and the development of Oyo State.

“I condole with His Imperial Majesty, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, the entire people of Ogbomoso and the Muslim Ummah in the state.

“It is my prayer that the Almighty grants the late Chief Imam Aljanah Firdaus and give everyone he left behind the strength and courage to bear the loss.”