The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has disclosed that his administration has earmarked the sum of 15.7bn Naira for the Judiciary arm of Government in the year 2026 fiscal year and reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to strengthen justice in the State.

Governor Abiodun stated this at the year 2026/2027 Legal Year thanksgiving ceremony at the Cathedral of Saint Peter, Ake, Abeokuta.

Abiodun emphasised on the importance of an independent, effective and adequately funded judiciary system in sustaining the rule of law and democratic governance in the State.

He further stated that the allocation was part of the government’s deliberate efforts to provide the judiciary with resources required to discharge its constitutional responsibilities and to complete a well-structured Court of Appeals building which was approved last year.

According to him, adequate funding of the justice sector would help improve courts infrastructure, strengthen judicial administration, enhance access to justice and facilitate the timely dispensation of cases

In her opening remarks, the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Honourable Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, said the Ogun State judiciary has operated a defined hierarchy of courts including the High Courts, Customary Court of Appeal, Magistrates Courts, Family Courts, the Small Claims Court, the Coroners Court, Customary Courts and the Ogun Multi-Door Courthouses which had procedural Rules guiding their operations.

Justice Dipeolu, explained that the courts had significantly advanced legal jurisprudence in Nigeria, with sons and daughters in the State serving distinctly nationally and internationally at both the Bar and Bench and the State being the first to produce two Chief Justice of Nigeria.

In his sermon, the Dean Cathedral of Saint Peter Ake, Venerable Dr. Samuel Omidiji, admonished judicial officers to prioritise compassion, fairness, firmness and dedication in the delivery of justice, the reading of the scripture from the book of Mathew 25:40.  

The cleric urged judicial officers and legal practitioners to recognise that their responsibilities go beyond interpreting laws and determining cases, stressing that their decisions could have profound consequences on the lives of individual, family and community.

The preacher said the commencement of the new legal year provided an opportunity for members of the Bar and Bench to reflect on their responsibilities and renew their commitment to justice, integrity and service to humanity