By Onwa Ekor, Calabar.
Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has called on newly sworn-in judges in the state to help in restoring faith in the judiciary.
Speaking at the swearing-in of three newly appointed High Court Judges in the state, on Monday, the governor asserted that the “pendulum of the public opinion on the judiciary will swing towards the positive direction if the judiciary is seen to be thriving, as the sanity of the society is dependent on efficient and equitable dispensation.”
Otu noted that the principle of separation of powers between the three arms of government is purely for checks and balances and not for opposition and friction.
He remarked that as the judges are sworn-in as members of the full bench at a time the judiciary nationwide is under unbridled public criticism; a lot of judicial expertise is expected from them.
“While the debate on the veracity or otherwise of the public claims rages on, the undisputed fact remains that the judiciary needs to re-invent itself through self-cleansing procedure.
“The National Judicial Council of Nigeria (NJCN) should not relent in banging the gavel on erring judicial officers,” Otu said.
The governor further charged the newly sworn in judges to live above board, in order to rekindle the faith and trust of the common man in the judiciary.
Continuing, Otu maintained that the current symbiotic relationship between the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary in the State is therefore worthy of commendation as it has facilitated the seamless movement of the machinery of government resulting to accelerated growth and development of the State.
“The three judges so elevated today are carefully chosen among the legal luminaries in the State Judiciary. They are therefore found to be an embodiment of hard-work, sincerity, integrity and with a firm knowledge and understanding of the law.
“The Judiciary should also assist the society in the decongestion of Correctional Centres through the effective use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) option,” the governor stated.
Earlier, in her remarks, the State Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Akon Ikpeme, advised the newly elevated judges to discharge their duties with the fear of God and in accordance to the rule of law.
“You are coming into an arena which requires integrity, impartiality and efficiency. I charge you to give judgement with fairness and according to the Rule of Law.
“As you take your oath this afternoon, don’t just recite it as anything, listen to the wordings of the oath and keep to it,” Justice Ikpeme charged the new judges.
Among those sworn in were, Hon. Justice Ama Edet Ekpo, Hon. Justice Theresa Ansa Agom and Hon. Justice Jarlath Ogar Agim.
