Gov. Ayade charges Judges, Magistrates to serve justice to all, declares 2022/2023 Legal Year open

 

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Frank Ulom, The Paradise

The Cross River Judiciary has been called upon to do everything possible within the ambit of the law to shun and expose any form of corrupt practices and favouritism to ensure justice is fairly served to all and sundry irrespective of economic and social status.

The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Professor Ben Ayade, gave the charge at the official opening of the 2022/2023 Legal year and thanksgiving service held at the Christian Central Chapel International, CCCI Ikot Eneobong, 8 Miles, Calabar.

Ayade who was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu, equally urged the Judiciary in the state to assiduously work to promote the rule of law and to ensure the guarantee of protection of lives and properties in Cross River.

The governor encouraged Judges, Magistrates and other law officers to be bold in the discharge of their duties and delivery of Judgments.

He explained that it is true that some influential and powerful persons in society feel that they can secure justice, and judgment with their money and trampled upon the rights and privileges of the poor and downtrodden, while at the same time challenging Judges and Magistrates to avoid engaging in frivolous adjournments of cases so as to alleviate the suffering of the common man.

Ayade disclosed that the state government has been doing its best to ensure a conducive and enabling environment for the Judiciary to carry out its responsibility at some level of comfortability in, a peaceful and secure atmosphere without fear or favour.

Governor Ayade recalled that during the 2021/2022 Legal year, Eight additional Judges were appointed for the regular Courts, and for the newly established Customary Court of Appeal.

The Cross River State governor revealed that in his desire to improve the condition of work of Judiciary officers, he set up the Justice Ita’s Committee to review upward the remuneration packages of Judges and Magistrates and that the recommendations shall soon be implemented.

In her address, the Chief Judge of Cross River State, Justice Akon Ikpeme, commended the state governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade for responding to the invitation at short notice, and for providing the Judiciary with the enabling environment to ensure the success of the 2022/2023 Legal year.

Justice Ikpeme explained that the legal year thanksgiving service is an annual event to thank God for bringing the entire Judiciary, Judges, Magistrates and other Judicial officers to a new legal year through His Grace.

The General Overseer, Christian Central Chapel International, Bishop Emmah Isong, preached on the theme, “A Woman Taken In Adultery.”

Bishop Isong, referring to the case of the woman caught in adultery and brought to Jesus Christ and the subsequent question that Christ asked her accusers, the man of God said that there is a need for people to be fair and just to other, while equally searching their self before unjustly condemning others.

The CCCI General Overseer called on legal practitioners to always ensure transparency and fairness in all the judgments they deliver in each of the cases brought before their jurisdiction.

High points of the 2022/2023 Legal year opening ceremony and thanksgiving were led by the State Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme and the presentation of gifts by the CCCI General Overseer, Bishop Emmah Isong.