Gov. Bello of Kogi swears in new CJ »

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has administered the oath of Office and allegiance to the newly appointed Acting Chief Judge of the State, Justice Richard Olorunfemi in another successive transition of leadership at the third arm of government in the State.

The event held on Friday at the banquet hall of the Government House in Lokoja and was graced by luminaries within the legal profession including the two immediate past Chief Judge of the State, Justice Sunday Omeiza Ottu and Justice Adebola Olusuyi.

Governor Bello who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Edward Onoja in his charge urged the newly sworn in Acting Chief Judge to use his years of experience on the bench to continue to lift the bar in the excellent performance of the judicial arm and the justice administration system in the state.

He noted that Kogi State remained one of the few state that had consistently maintained a seamless exist and entry of the head of Courts for the past five years since he became the Governor noting that suchs was the way to go as against several states which experienced crisis during similar period.

He noted that such seamless transitions and harmonious co existence has helped to stabilise the judicial Arm of government enhancing its effectiveness, efficiency and performance while he prayed for God to grant the new Chief Judge the needed wisdom to steer the cause of the judicial arm toward more fruitful outcomes

In his address, Kogi State’s Attorney General, Mohammed Ibrahim Sanni, SAN represented the state’s Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Hauwa Yusuf stated that Kogi Judiciary has being in the news for the right reasons in very recent times.

He noted that two successive and substantive Chief Judges have been sworn which was as a result of the Governor’s stand on due process which has ensured smooth transitions in the Judicial arm leadership

The Attorney General noted that the Governor took in to cognizance the constitution and the suitability of the new Acting Chief Judge in making the Appointment while he expressed confidence that Justice Olorunfemi would bring to bare his experience in the performance of his duties.

In his remarks, the new Acting Chief Judge, Justice Olorunfemi thanked the State Governor for finding him worthy as well as other well meaning stakeholders both from within the bench as well as other arms

He Promised that their would be positive impact which the State would surely enjoy noting that the three arm of government would continue to work together in ensuring that the people benefitted from the democratic dividends from the government

Born on 26 June, 1957, Hon. Richard Olorunju Olorunfemi, hails from Okedagun, in Mopa Local Government where he had his Primary and Secondary School Education. He earned his Law Degree, LLb at the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Law Bar in 1983

Justice Olorunfemi is now the third Acting Chief Judge of Kogi state within the period of December 2020 up till date in what could be described as seamless leadership transitions in the Judicial arm of government.