Again, the Chief Judge of Kogi State, Hon. Justice Josiah Joe Majebi, has taken delivery of additional Toyota Cross cars from the state government for Judges of superior courts in the state expressing confidence that the Governor of the state, His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, would turn around the fortunes of the state judiciary going by his plan.
The CJ made the remark when receiving the set of eight vehicles on behalf of the Judges at the judiciary headquarters, Lokoja yesterday.
Delivering the cars on behalf of the governor and the state government, the Head of Service of the state, Mr. Elijah Evenemi, said the delivery of the vehicles was in fulfillment of the governor’s promise to ensure judicial officers in the state were adequately positioned to perform their duties effectively.
In his response, the CJ who thanked God for making another day of handing over cars to Judges of the state possible appreciated the efforts of the state governor for picking interest and being committed to improving the state judiciary while also hopeful that the lower court Judges and other staff, whom he asked to be patient, would as well benefit from the many plans the state government has for the judiciary.
“First and foremost, let me appreciate God Almighty for making today possible that we are witnessing another event of handing over cars to Judges of Kogi State Judiciary. We appreciate the efforts of the state Governor for his interest and the commitment he has shown so far for the judiciary in just some few months of being in office.
“Because we are sure that he will satisfy the judiciary, we have the confidence that this will still get down to the Magistrates, Area Court Judges and some other staff. So we appeal to all judiciary staff to be patient as we have no doubt that everyone will receive whatever is due to him or her” assured the CJ.
Stating that the Governor has proven in the short time that the judiciary would soon begin to enjoy the government, he pointed to the redemption of the Governor’s promise to provide the vehicles and called for prayers to enable him deliver on other promises.
“As both the Qur’an and Bible admonish us to always pray for our leaders, our prayer is for God to protect him and give him the resources and enablement to achieve his desires and interests. In the last meeting I had with him, His Excellency assured that he will concentrate efforts to make Kogi State Judiciary an enviable one in the country and this is already a sign towards that direction. He has promised us vehicles and we are already witnessing it. What is called precedent in law is using the antecedents of an individual to judge the likelihood of the person’s next action. So, by the delivery of these tranches of vehicles, His Excellency has laid a precedent that we are sure he will continue with.
“I am glad that at every opportunity available to me to place our needs before him, he has been consistent in assuring that he was tackling the challenges in the state in phases and the judiciary would not be left out. So, as the welfare of staff is my concern and His Excellency has given his backing, I am very sure that after clearing the few remaining in this category, we will soon move to the next level of celebration by God’s grace” said the CJ.
The Head of Service who presented the vehicles in the company of the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Muizudeen Yunus Abdallah (SAN), recalled that the Governor had earlier supplied 25 numbers of the vehicles to the Judges and has the intention of improving the lot of the institution.
“During the swearing-in ceremony of newly appointed Judges and Kadis sometimes ago, His Excellency promised to supply cars to judges in the system. The last we presented some was at the Muhammadu Buhari Square but today we said we should come to deliver them to you here at the judiciary headquarters. 14 number of the same brand of Toyota Cross were earlier delivered on that day of the swearing-in, then we delivered 11 subsequently and today we are delivering eight. This is in consonance with His Excellency’s promise to ensure that the Judges of the state are comfortable enough to discharge their duties. As a ‘talk-and-do’ Governor, we are here to flower this place with these new cars today because he believes in boosting the morale of Judges in the state. He has so much trust in you and other plans for the judiciary. This means that other things will continue to follow in phases after this” he said.
The President of the Customary Court of Appeal of the state, Hon. Justice Siyaka Momohjimoh Usman, and other members of the state’s Judicial Service Commission were also on ground during the receipt and subsequent presentation of the vehicles to the Judges whom the CJ said the vehicles were being given according to their hierarchy as received in tranches.