Appoint Judges On Merit, Babaleye Tells Ondo CJ …Hails Endorsement of New Practice Direction In Ondo Courts

An Abuja based legal practitioner, Mr Tolu Babaleye has charged the Chief Judge of Ondo State to ensure that merit is considered in the nomination of judges for the state judiciary.

Also, Babaleye urged the Chief Judge to ensure that only corrupt free legal practitioners are nominated for the National Judicial Council (NJC) to serve as judges in the state judiciary.

This is even as he commended the Chief Judge for endorsing a new practice direction, which provides that territorial jurisdiction over criminal matters and causes shall be the court situate in the area where the crime was committed.

“This was contrary to the former position in which a crime committed, for instance, in Okitipupa, would be charged in Akure Court thereby creating serious administrative bottleneck and heavy financial burden to the parties in the suit,” he stated.

He said “I have noted the outpouring of commendations to the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Ayedun Olusegun Od, over this matter and I join the good people of Ondo State especially the lawyers practising in the criminal courts to commend the CJ for the radical step he took in this direction.

“However, I wish to specially thank and commend Alhaji Rasheed Olanrewaju Kazeem, the doyen of Akoko bar, who initiated the suit leading to this radical reformation of our Criminal Legal System and Jurisprudence in our dear Ondo State. I wish to state that he has left an indelible mark in the legal system of Ondo State.

“I commend him particularly knowing the efforts, research and money that he had invested in getting that case to the state High Court, Owo, leading to the judgment that made the CJ issue the new practice direction.

“May I also with humility commend the Judge that wrote and read the judgment that radicalized the issue at hand for his boldness, fairness and fearlessness in the delivery of the judgment like the Lord Denning, Kayode Eso and Chukwudifu Oputa of old who took many radical decisions that had brought our Legal System thus far.

“Let me also use this opportunity to reach out to the Chief Judge of Ondo State to do what is right in the ongoing appointment of more judges in Ondo State. Let the CJ jettison favouritism, look at antecedence and recommend corrupt free legal practitioners to the NJC for appointment into the judiciary of Ondo State, and above all, it should be based on merit.

“The whole world is monitoring the selection process and what it will turn out to be in the end as a corrupt free judiciary is the best foundation for an egalitarian society. Ondo State is our place of pride,” he added.