Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Monday, inaugurated the new Chief Judge of the state, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, with a charge to raise the bar and ensure prompt and efficient service delivery that meets global standards.

Oyebanji, who said the position of a chief judge was a sacred trust, described the Judiciary as the last hope of the common man, adding, “The institution must therefore be guided, not by sentiment, fear, or favouritism, but by the Constitution and the dictates of the Law.”

The governor spoke in Ado Ekiti while inaugurating Ogunmoye, who was until the moment the acting chief judge following the demise last year of his predecessor, the late Justice Oyewole Adeyeye.

He said that the qualities of “unimpeachable integrity, profound legal knowledge and astute administrative capability” expected of CJ, placed upon him or her “a sacred duty to uphold justice at all times regardless of whose interest is involved”.

Oyebanji advised Ogunmoye, “I therefore implore Your Lordship to be guided by a sense of duty flowing from your years of experience beginning as a State Counsel, and later the Solicitor-General of Ekiti State and much later a Judge of the High Court.

“It is delightful that one can attest to your unblemished record as a Judge of the High Court for nearly two decades and your eight months in acting capacity as CJ.

“I, therefore, wish to say that there is more to be done in order to continuously raise the bar and to ensure prompt and efficient service delivery that meets global standards.

“Let it be said in years to come that under your leadership, the Judiciary of Ekiti State reached a higher standard – one that ensured justice for all, regardless of status, gender, or circumstance,” the governor said.

In his response, the new CJ, Ogunmoye, who appreciated the governor and the National Judicial Council, said, “My focus as the CJ is about the Judiciary that is accessible, accountable, transparent and that is efficient”.

The CJ, who said, “Mr Governor has spoken about the expectations of the Judiciary”, noted that his vision for the Judiciary included to improve on the infrastructure on the ground.

He said, “The identified challenges include technological deficiency, infrastructure deficits and the issue of transparency. We all know lack of transparency breeds a lack of trust. Our focus is to ensure that we have a judiciary that is transparent and corruption-free.

“I have the vision to have a digitalised judiciary, we can’t do anything in the judiciary without going digital, which will ensure the success of our assignments,” Ogunmoye said.