Gov. Oyetola inaugurates Customary Court of Appeal President

Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, on Wednesday, inaugurated Justice Wasiu Akanbi as President of Customary Court of Appeal.

Oyetola, while speaking at the ceremony in Osogbo, urged Akanbi to uphold the sanctity of the judiciary.

He also appealed to him to discharge his duties with the fear of God and topmost sincerity, and ensure fairness and equity in the dispensation of justice in the state.

Oyetola, who described judiciary as the last hope of the common man, urged Akanbi to use judicial instrumentality to sustain the pervading peace in the state and adjudicate justice to sustain the status of Osun as the most peaceful state in the country.

He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring the independence of the judiciary and championing the welfare of judicial officers.

According to him, the Customary Court of Appeal remains one of the custodians of the people’s customs and tradition and a formidable medium for protecting them.

Oyetola said that the new customary court of appeal president must always dispense justice to those who might have suffered injustice at the lower court in the interest of peace.

The governor urged him to build a stronger justice system that would deliver a better and more dignified state.

“The customary court of appeal has a duty to ensure that the customs and tradition pertaining to marriages, property ownership, inheritance and other spheres that are critical to people’s lives but which are usually unwritten and often subjected to abuse, are protected and sustained.

“The court has a huge task, not only to ensure that the sanctity of people’s customs and tradition is maintained and sustained, but also to dispense justice to those who might have suffered injustice at the lower court and to promptly dispense same in the interest of peace,” he said.

In his remarks, Akanbi expressed gratitude to the governor for finding him worthy of the appointment.

He pledged to deliver his duties with high sense of diligence, integrity and competence.

“I promise before God and the people not to disappoint the state, as I equally pledge to undertake the job professionally and put in my best to serve humanity,” Akanbi said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akanbi’s appointment and confirmation was sequel to the exit of his predecessor, Justice Eunice Awolalu, after attaining the statutory retirement age. 

(NAN)