Ekiti CJ Calls for Redesigning of New Court Complex

The Ekiti State Chief Judge (CJ), Justice Ayodeji Daramola, has
called on Governor Kayode Fayemi to redesign the new Court Complex
constructed by former Governor Ayodele Fayose within the Ado Ekiti
High Court in a manner that will conform with the one that can be
used for judicial purposes.

Justice Daramola succinctly described the new state High Court
complex commissioned by Fayose in May 2018 as “a hybrid of
absurdity”, which he said made it difficult for the judiciary to
make use of the edifice named after the first Chief Judge of Ekiti
State and now a king of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Ademola Ajakaye.

Speaking in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday at a special court sitting to
mark the commencement of the 2018/2019 Legal Year, the CJ called on
Fayemi to reconstruct the new High Court complex for smooth conduct
of judicial process in the state.

He said: “Since the creation of Ekiti State on 1st October,
1996, the Judiciary has suffered acute shortage of court halls and
office accommodation.

“It is thanks to Mr. Ayodele Fayose’s administration that the
problem is largely solved now with the construction of the Justice
Ademola Ajakaiye House.

“As laudable as the new building is, it is still in a way, a
hybrid of absurdity. In its present state, it can’t properly and
comfortably function as court house as it was not properly designed
for that purpose nor was it designed for administrative
purposes.

“That of course is why we have not been able to put it into use
since that building was commissioned earlier in the month of May
this year.

“Our appeal now goes to the current administration of Dr. Kayode
Fayemi to come to our rescue in reconstructing the interior of the
new building to enable us put it into appropriate use.”

Justice Daramola also advocated a better funding of the
Judiciary for that arm of government to remain truly independent
and better perform its constitutional roles.

In his short remark, Fayemi urged the “cooperation of every arm
of government to make Ekiti fulfill the purpose for its
existence”.

Also, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr.
Olawale Fapohunda, advocated the support of the Bar to fight crime
in the state and ensure that criminals are tried and convicted for
the crime they commit.

The Anglican Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, the Rt. Rev. Christopher
Omotunde, called on the concerned authorities to provide judges and
other judicial officers with adequate security.

He explained that one police orderly given to each judge for
protection is not appropriate because of the sensitive nature of
their job, describing such police orderlies as “mere
decoration”.

The bishop urged judicial officers to be above board, fearless
and be guided by the fear of God in the discharge of their
duties.