EDO CHIEF JUDGE OPENS 2019/2020 LEGAL YEAR, HARPS ON INDEPENDENCE OF THE JUDICIARY
The Hon. Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice Esohe Frances Ikponmwen, FCJEI has reiterated that the Judiciary must at all time remain immune to undue influence just as the Judiciary Officers must uphold the oath of office sworn to in the discharge of their duties as the Judiciary is the arbiter of all disputes in the democratic system of Govt.
Hon. Justice Ikponmwen who was speaking during the opening of the 2019/2020 Legal year lauded Edo State Government under the Leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki for the bold steps taken to ensure that Edo State Judiciary witnesses a rapid turnaround in terms of renovation of dilapidating structures. She however insisted that financial autonomy or independence is the way to go if the Judiciary is to thrive at a faster rate than it is now.
The Chief Judge further urged all Judicial officers to continue to do justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will.
In her address, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Edo State said she was deeply honoured to be part of the noble commonwealth tradition marking the beginning of a new legal year which dates back to the middle ages.
Prof. Omorogbe mentioned that it is a Pivotal ceremony in Nigeria, which sets the tone for the justice sector in the coming year, and provides an opportunity for the Chief Judge to speak on issues that are of pressing importance.
The Hon. Attorney-General in retrospect said that the 2018/2019 Legal year has been characterized by learning, repositioning and change. Further intimating that learning has been continuous through the various trainings that state counsels attended all through the year..
It is of note that the ceremony for the opening of the legal year which is a judicial ritual, marks the official commencement of the Legal Year and affords members of the Bar, Bench and Stakeholders in the Justice Delivery sector and friends of the Judiciary the opportunity to review the outgone legal year with a view to identifying the successes, challenges, areas that need either a total change or overhaul.
Nwine, Nekpen Maureen
Information Officer, Edo State Judiciary
2019/2020 LEGAL YEAR OF THE EDO STATE JUDICIARY
The ceremonies marking the opening of the 2019/2020 Legal Year is scheduled to hold from Wednesday, 2nd October, 2019 to Friday, 4th October, 2019 with the following events;
Day 1 – 2nd October, 2019
7.00am-8.00am – Fitness walk from High Court to visit an Orphanage Home at Stadium Road, Benin City and ending at the High Court premises for refreshment.
3.30pm-5.30pm – Table Tennis & Lawn Tennis tournament at the Judges’ Lodge, G.R.A., Benin City
Day 2 – 3rd October, 2019
10.am-12.00 noon – Bar/Bench Forum
4.00pm -Dinner with retired Judges and other guests
Day 3 – 4th October, 2019
9.00am-10.00am – An Interdenominational Service to mark the formal opening of the 2019/2020 Legal Year at the High Court Complex, Sapele Road, Benin City.
10.00am-11.00am – Inspection of Guard of Honour by The Honourable, the Chief Judge of Edo State/photographs at the High Court Complex, Sapele Road, Benin City.
11.00-1.00pm -Special Court Session at High Court 1, Benin City
2.00pm– Entertainment of invited guests.
W.I. Aziegbemhin Esq.,
Chief Registrar.
EDO CHIEF JUDGE INSTALLED AS PATRONESS OF BOYS BRIGADE NIGERIA
The Hon. Chief Judge of Edo State Judiciary, Hon. Justice Esohe Ikponmwen, has been installed as the Patroness, Boys Brigade, Nigeria.
Speaking at the Decoration ceremony which took place at the High Court in Benin City, Hon. Justice Esohe Ikponmwen said she was grateful to God and to everyone for the hour bestowed on her, explaining that she was elated to learn of the vision of Boys Brigade, Nigeria, and as it is founded on the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, she would whole heartedly embrace it since it was another opportunity for her to serve and spread the Gospel.
The Hon. Chief Judge further thanked those who had been strengthening the organization, while promising to uphold the tenets of the association in appreciation of her call in this area of service.
Earlier, while decorating the Chief Judge, the State President, Boys Brigade, Nigeria. Edo State Council, Mr. Lawson Akhideno, said investing Hon. Justice Esohe Ikponmwen as a State Patroness of the Organization was a dream come true for them, as they were assured that the vision and mission of Boys Brigade, Nigeria would be accomplished in Edo State.
The State President likened the investiture ceremony to the story of the sick man in the Bible, who had no man to help him, emphasizing his strong belief that God would use Hon. Justice Esohe Ikponmwen to uplift Boys Brigade in Edo State.
Mr. Akideno further congratulated the Hon. Chief Judge on the investiture and formerly welcomed her to Boys Brigade, Nigeria, whose objective is the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom among Boys and promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness.
Nwine Nekpen Maureen
Information officer, Edo State Judiciary
74 INMATES FREED AS COMMITTEE ON PRISON DECONGESTION VISITS BENIN
No fewer than 74 inmates were recently freed from the Benin and Oko prisons as the presidential Committee on Prisons Reform and Decongestion visited Benin City, Edo State.
The inmates, who had been sentenced over crimes ranging from breach of peace, malicious damage, unlawful assault, fraud, conspiracy, breaking and stealing, were excited at the prospect of reuniting with their families.
Releasing them, the Head of the Presidential Committee on prisons Reform and Decongestion, and Chief Judge of FCT, Abuja, Chief Justice Ishaqu Bello, admonished the freed inmates to desist from acts that could get them back to prisons in future, maintaining that crimes do not pay.
The inmates who had learnt some trades while in custody were given some amount of money toenable them to set up their businesses and have means of livelihood, so as to shun crimes.
On her part, the Hon. Chief Judge, Edo State Judiciary, Hon. Justice Esohe Ikponmwen, charged the freed inmates to eschew life of crimes in the future as their loved ones suffered the most from their conviction.
Earlier, while on a courtesy call on the Governor of the State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Hon. Justice Bello informed the Governor that Edo State was the 14th State the Committee had visited while fulfilling their mandate of reforming and decongesting Prisons across the nation.
Present at the decongestion exercise were the Chief Judge of Edo State Judiciary, Honourable Justice Esohe Ikponmwen, the Attorney General of Edo State, Professor Yinka Omorogbe, Deputy Comptroller of Prisons, Edo State Command, Joseph Usendiah.
Nwine Nekpen Maureen
Information Officer, Edo State Judiciary
Appointment of Chief Registrar for the High Court
Following the retirement of H. I. Enemaku, Esq. on the 14th January, 2019, the Judicial Service Commission at its meeting held on Tuesday, the 22nd of January, 2019 approved the appointment of W. I. Aziegbemhin, Esq. as the substantive Chief Registrar of the High Court of Edo State with effect from 15th January, 2019. Until his appointment, W. I. Aziegbemhin, Esq. was a Chief Magistrate (Speceial Grade) and Deputy Chief Registrar (Special Duties and Protocol).
NOTICE
Please note that the PERFORMANCE EVALUATION, NATION-WIDE TRAINING EXERCISE which was slated to hold in Edo State on 5th of November, 2018 has been postponed indefinitely as a result of the proposed NLC Nationwide strike action. A new date will be communicated soonest.
H. I. Enemaku
Chief Registrar.
PUBLIC LECTURE
This is to the inform the general public of the 1st Public Lecture of the Faculty of Law, Benson Idahosa University, Benin City .
Topic: THE ART AND ESSENTIALS OF JUDGEMENT WRITING: A CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF THE JUDGEMENT OF PONTIUS PILATE to be delivered by His Lordship the Hon. the Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice Esohe Frances Ikponmwen, FCJEI
CHARILOVE IS PUSHING FOR BEST PRACTICES – CHRISTOPHER OMUSI
THE founder and coordinator of charilove centre, Christopher Omusi has said that any individual or government that encourage vote buying and election malpractice does not mean well for the people of this country.
Speaking during the visit of the Edo State chief Judge, Hon Justice Frances lkponmwen who led members of the state Judiciary on their charity walk to charilove centre in Benin City Mr. Omusi said such action result in dare consequences for Nigeria and organs such as charilove in particular and humanity at large.
“I wish to state categorically that any individual or government that encourages and promotes vote buying and election malpractices does not mean well for the people of this country.” Such individual or government is utterly satanic and can only end up creating a society that is utterly deformed and disabled.
I pray that the Judiciary will in the name of God do its best to ensure that people do not drag Nigeria to that awful state; he noted.
He said that for the Edo State Judiciary to find charilove as a place to channel its maiden and historic charity walk is certainly divinely inspired.
“We thank God for using the Edo State Judiciary today to lift up our drooping spirit and to keep our charilove hope alive.”
“Your coming here physically means a whole lot more to charilove than any award from anywhere in the world.
Thank you for coming to help wipe some of our over flowing tears, not essentially for ourselves but for our country Nigeria, he added.
He disclosed that charilove is a needs focused, action oriented and down to earth pragmatic voluntary service organisation.
In his words, charilove is an encapsulation of every idea and approaches that Nigeria needs to copy to be able to make headway and become a truly great nation.
“Charilove believes in action rooted advocacy (do-the talk-by-action) and not in mere rhetoric’s or propaganda.”
Charilove has continued and will, by the grace of God, continue to maintain just one position: If god is to choose to spare our country, Nigeria because of one, two or three upright individuals or groups, we want charilove to be a ready name to be presented by His angels. Staying true to this position is our passion and thus is the spirit that has helped to mold our character, our chosen vocation and our activities, he noted.
He further declared that because of the uncompromising position of charilove in pushing for best practices, the pace setter humanitarian service organisation and those running it have been made to suffer every manner of persecution, isolation, frustration and “rape” consequently, charilove has become stunted and sadly made so by people and by the Nigeria most difficult environment.
“Charilove observations and direct experiences are bringing us to ask one poignant question, “Has It become a crime and tragedy for someone in Nigeria to advocate for and uncompromisingly insist on best practices,” he added.
The Chief Judge of Edo State Justice Frances lkponmwen disclosed that when she thought of the usual charity walk to open the legal year, the lord put it in her heart that we should not just be seen as punishing those who offend in the, society but the judiciary as a whole must also be seen as serving the community and I thought we should pay a visit to project charilove and give a token of what we have.
“We have all come and we have seen, when we are in our little corner we grumble a lot about how hard things are.” But if we move out to see what people are going through, especially children who from no fault of theirs are born with certain disabilities, you will want to stop and think about them, you will want to give to ensure they have a better life, many of them from what I have read, when some people have children with disabilities they lock them in their homes or throw them away from them so that people will not laugh at them.
The mentality of our society is such that when anything happens to anybody, the thinking is that it is because of the evil the person has done.
“As an enlightened arm of the government we should begin to partner with other arms of the society that this children who are born with disability is no fault of theirs and we need to support them.”
CREDT: The Nigerian Observer
www.nigerianobservernews.com
JUDICIARY AND DISPENSATION OF JUSTICE BY EUBALDUS ENAHORO
THERE are so much politicking going on in the country and the rhetoric and propaganda have been heating up the polity with the general elections barely four months away.
The politicians are busy struggling for power even when it is obvious that most of them do not merit a second chance in the corridors of power.
In Nigeria today, hype on economic and political Issues has kept the populace busy to the extent they forget about the less privileged. For instance there has been public outcry over vote buying which has become prevalent in our elections.
Thus trend is however not new because in the 2015 general election we saw how in the full glare of the security apparatus, some youths at Ogbe quarters in Benin City made frantic efforts to ensure that voters only cast their votes for their candidates.
A Journalist earned some few slaps from the hoodlums for daring these indian hemp smoking youths when he tried to insist on voting for his own candidate. The problem began when they requested to see who he had voted for before dropping the voter’s card inside the ballot box.
While some persons were made to swallow the bitter pill of accepting the N2,000 cash offered and vote their candidate, those who refused to dance to their tune were disenfranchised because they refused to compromise or sell their votes and conscience. It is then obvious that the vote buying syndrome did not just start With the Osun and Ekiti state governorship election.
We have heard many views on how to curb vote buying and the implications for our democratic journey. However, it is clear that the desperation for power has made some politicians believe that with their ill gotten money they can buy the peoples votes on election day and the highest bidder will take the day. We saw It happen at the party primaries across the states.
In any case, If Nigerians are truly sincere with themselves, especially the umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the solution to this vote buying is for them to ensure that the voting pattern is made secret.
Away from politics, there are issues of immense importance, which should take our time and attention and that is reaching out to the less privileged In our midst.
It is sad that some people can afford to spend so much money to seek for power while several persons are wallowing in poverty, deprivation and hopelessness amongst their midst.
It was no doubt in response to meet the plight of the orphans and children with special needs, that the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Esohe Frances lkponmwen led the Judiciary in the state on a charity walk to charilove centre to identify with these categories of persons and give a token to them.
In the words of the Chief Judge who was accompanied by Judges, magistrates and other judiciary staff, it was the lord that laid it in her heart to visit the Charliove centre of disadvantaged and marginalized children.
“As I thought of the usual charity walk to open the legal year, the lord put it in my heart that we should not just be seen as punishing those who offend in the society, but the judiciary as a whole must also be seen as serving the community. I then thought we should pay a visit to Project Charilove and give a token of what we have. ‘
“We have all come and we have seen. When we are in our little corner we grumble a lot about how hard things are. But if we move out to see what people are going through, especially children who from no fault of theirs are born with certain disabilities, you will want to stop and think about their plight and give to ensure they have a better life. Many of them from what I have read, when some people have children with disabilities, they lock them in the house or throw them away so that people will not laugh at them. The mentality of our society is such that when anything happens to anybody, the thinking is that it is because of the evil the person has done“
“But as an enlightened arm of the government, we should begin to partner with other arms of the society that this children who are born with disability is no fault of theirs and we need to support them.”
The founder and coordinator of Charilove centre, Christopher Omusi who had earlier condemned the vote buying and election malpractice by politicians noted that such practices does not mean well for the people in the country as such action result in dare consequences for Nigeria and organs such as Charilove in particular and humanity at large.
“I wish to state categorically that any individual or government that encourages and promotes vote buying and election malpractices does not mean well for the people of this country. Such individual or government is largely satanic and can only end up creating a society that is utterly deformed and disabled.
“I pray that the Judiciary will in the name of God do its best to ensure that people do not drag Nigeria to that awful state. I thank Edo state Judiciary for finding Charilove as a place to channel its maiden and historic walk. It is certainly divinely inspired. God has used Edo state Judiciary today to uplift our drooping spirit and to keep our charilove hope alive.
“Your coming here: physically means a whole lot more to charilove than any award from anywhere in the world. Thank you for coming to help wipe some of our over flowing tears, not essentially for ourselves but for our country Nigeria,” he added.
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Hon. The Chief Judge of Edo State, The Hon. Justice Esohe Frances Ikponmwen, FCJEI, has directed that due to the threatened Nationwide strike action by the NLC, the Edo State 2018/2019 Legal Year Ceremonies earlier scheduled to hold 27th and 28th of September, 2018 be rescheduled for the 11th and 12th of October, 2018.
All inconveniences occasioned by this reschedule are deeply regretted, please.
Signed
Chief Registrar
INVITATION TO CEREMONIES MARKING THE OPENING OF THE 2018/2019 LEGAL YEAR OF THE EDO STATE JUDICIARY
The Honourable the Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice E. F. Ikponmwen, FCJEI, has directed that I respectfully write to inform and invite you to the ceremonies marking the opening of the 2018/2019 Legal Year which is scheduled for Thursday 27th September, 2018 and Friday 28th September, 2018.
The Ceremonies are scheduled as follows:-
27th Sept. 2018 7:00am – 8:00am Charity walk from High Court to the Ring Road to visit Project Charilove then back to the High Court.
10:00am – 10:30am Unveiling and distribution of the New Edition of the Edo State Judiciary Newsreel Magazine, new High Court Civil Court Procedure Rules 2018,
Magistrates Court Rules & Area/District Court Rules followed by inspection of renovation & construction sites.
3:30pm – 5:30pm Table Tennis & Lawn Tennis tournament at the Judges; Lodge, G.R.A., Benin City.
28th Sept., 2018 9:30am – 10:45am An Interdenominational Service to mark the formal opening of the 2018/2019 Legal Year at the High Court Complex, Sapele Road, Benin City.
11:00am – 11:30am Inspection of Guard of Honour by The Honourable, the Chief Judge of Edo State/Photographs at The High Court Complex, Sapele Road, Benin
City.
12noon – 2:00pm Special Court Session at High Court 1, Benin City.
I respectfully on behalf of the Edo State Judiciary request that you are expected to deliver a speech at the opening ceremony on Friday, the 28th day of September, 2018 after consultation with the Chairmen of Ekpoma, Auchi, Uromi and Igarra Branches.
Accept, the assurances of the esteemed regard of The Honourable the Chief Judge, Please.
Yours sincerely,
A. E. Aibaogun (Mrs.),
Chief Inspector,
For: Chief Registrar.
RESUMPTION OF HON. JUDGES OF EDO STATE JUDICIARY
This is to inform the general public of the resumption of the Hon. Judges of Edo State Judiciary from their annual vacation on the 24th day of September, 2018. Normal court activities have since began.
BURIAL ARRANGEMENTS FOR LATE HON. JUSTICE TIMOTHY UKPEBOR OBOH
Friday 13th July, 2018
8:00am – Corpse leavse Stella Obasanjo Hospital, Sapele Road, Benin City for High Court of Justice, Sapele Road, Benin City
9:00am – Valedictory Court Session at High Court of Jusice, Sapele Road, Benin City
10:00am – Body leavesHigh Court of Justice, Sapele Road, Benin City to his home town , Ogwa, Esan West Local Government Area, Edo State for interment.
Saturday 14th July, 2018
12:00am – Social Dance
Sunday 15th July, 2018
09:00am – Thanksgiving service at God’s Fulfilment Bible Church, Benin City.
PRESS RELEASE
DIRECTIONS UNDER ORDER 43 RULE 4(2) OF HIGH
COURT (CIVIL PROCEDURE) RULES 2012:
ANNUAL VACATION FOR THE YEAR 2018
The general public is hereby notified that in compliance with the provisions of the High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2012, The Honourable Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice E. F. Ikponmwen has directed as follows:
- That the Annual Vacation of the High Court of Justice of Edo State shall commence on Monday 30th day of July, 2018 and shall end on Friday the 22nd day of September, 2018 both days inclusive. Full judicial activities would commence on the 25th day of September, 2018.
- That during the Annual Vacation, there shall be:
One vacation Judge in the State who shall sit in Benin Judicial Division, to entertain only urgent civil, revenue and criminal matters.
- That the matters to be entertained by the Vacation Judge during the period, shall be fresh matters of utmost urgency filed during the Vacation and not connected with matters already pending in the Courts.
- That the Vacation Judge shall be Hon. Justice M.O. Ighodalo of the High Court of Justice.
- That cases pending before the regular Courts may however be heard by the leave of the Honourable Judge in charge of that Court and by the consent of Learned Counsel to the parties.
Chief Registrar.
PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI SIGNS BILL GRANTING FINANCIAL AUTONOMY TO STATES JUDICIARY
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday 8th June, 2018 assented to the constitution fourth alteration bill which grants financial autonomy and independence to the Houses of Assembly of the respective states and to the Judiciary of the respective states.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Friday.
He said “Therefore, upon this signature, the amounts standing to the credit of the judiciary are to now be paid directly to the judiciary of those states and no more through the governors and from the governors.
“And then the amounts standing to the credit of the Houses of Assembly of the respective states are now to be paid directly to the Houses of Assembly of that state for the benefit of the legislators and the management of the state Houses of Assembly of that state. This grants full autonomy now to the Houses of Assembly and judiciary of states.
ANNOUNCEMENT: DEATH OF HON. JUSTICE TIMOTHY UKPEBOR OBOH
It is with great sadness that the Edo State Judiciary announces the passing on of His Lordship Hon. Justice Timothy Ukpebor Oboh.
Until his death he was a serving Judge of the Edo State Judiciary sitting at High Court 1 Auchi.
This is a great loss to the Edo State Judiciary. Our though and wellwishes go out to his family and friends.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later.
VALEDICTORY COURT SESSION IN HONOUR OF HON. JUSTICE A. EDODO-ERUAGA
The Honourable the Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice E. F. Ikponmwen on behalf of the Edo State Judiciary cordially invites the general public to the Valedictory Court Session in honour of Hon. Justice A. Edodo-Eruaga.
Date: 29th June, 2018
Time: 10am
Venue: High Court of Justice, Sapele Road, Benin City.
R.S.V.P: H. I. Enemaku Esq (Chief Registrar)
VALEDICTORY COURT SESSION IN HONOUR OF HON. JUSTICE J. U. OYOMIRE
The Honourable the Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice E. F. Ikponmwen on behalf of the Edo State Judiciary cordially invites the general public to the Valedictory Court Session in honour of Hon. Justice J. U. Oyomire.
Date: 22nd May, 2018
Time: 1pm
Venue: High Court of Justice, Sapele Road, Benin City.
R.S.V.P: H. I. Enemaku Esq (Chief Registrar)
RETREAT
This is to inform the general public that the Hon. Judges of the Edo State Judiciary will be on a 5 day retreat from the 23rd – 27th April, 2017. To this effect, there will be no seating in all High Courts in the state for the period of the retreat.
Edo State Governor swears in new Honourable Judges
The Edo State Governor Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki on Monday 16th April, 2018 swore in two new Honourable Judges into the Edo State Judiciary.
The two newly sworn in judges are Hon. Justice Orobosa Omotoso and Hon. Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu.
Speaking at the occasion, Gov. Godwin Obaseki said that his administration remains committed to strengthening the state judicial system for optimal justice delivery and sustenance of the democratic process.
He said: “We realise that without an effective judicial system it will be impossible to practise our democracy.
We are proud of the reputation of the entire judiciary in the Edo State for its independence, integrity and its industry.
We constantly celebrate the fact that at a certain time when allegations were being regularly made regarding judges, our judiciary remained well respected and scandal-free”
He expressed optimism that the newly sworn in judges would build on the legacies left behind by their predecessors.
Hon. Justice Orobosa Omotoso, in her response, commended the Governor for his administration’s resolve to re-position the state judicial system.
She pledged the commitment of the new judges to discharge their duties to the best of their abilities.
Hon. Justice Orobosa Omotoso was born in 1967 and called to the bar in 1989, while Hon. Justice Aigbona Terry Momodu, also born in 1967, was called to the bar in 1991.
EDO STATE MULTIDOOR COURT, SENSITIZATION / PUBLIC AWARENESS PROGRAMME
On behalf of the Honourable the Chief Judge/Chairman of the Governing Council of the Edo State Multidoor Court, the general public is hereby invited to a sensitization/public awareness programme designed to engage various stakeholders on the services offered by the Edo State Multidoor Court and the benefit of exploring the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism.
The Edo State Multidoor Court was recently established to provide enhanced access to justice through a variety of Alternative Dispute Resolution processes aimed at supplementing litigation with other effective methods that are generally faster, cheaper and less adversarial.
The programme is scheduled to hold on Tuesday 30th January, 2018, 2018 at the Imaguero College Hall, Sapele Road Benin City at 10 a.m.
Your esteemed presence will be highly appreciated.
