Federal and State Government have been charged to give priority to appointment of judicial officers based on competency.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Jibrin Okutepa made the call at the Valedictory Court Session in honour of the outgoing Chief Judge of Kogi State, Justice Richard Olorunju Olorunfemi in Lokoja.

Okutepa, who spoke on behalf of Senior Advocate of Nigeria said recent development show that some judicial officers were appointment based on lobby and not on their capability to dispense justice effectively.

He decried treatment being meted to the nation’s judiciary and appeal to Government to reverse the ugly trend.

Also speaking, the Lokoja branch chairman of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Ibrahim Alhasan urged the State Government to as a matter of urgency reconstruct the Hassan Kastina Road leading to the headquarters of the Kogi State Judiciary as well as provide official vehicles for Magistrates in the State.

He described the outgoing Chief Judge as a role model, humble, upright and very versed as a judicial officer.

In a remark on behalf of High Court judges, Justice Josiah Majebi also extolled the virtues of Justice Richard Olorunfemi and his sense of humor and appealed that more attention be given to judicial officers to help cushion the risk encountered in the course of performing thier official duties.

Also in a remark, the pioneer Chief Judge of the State and former Administrator of the National Judicial Institute, NJI, Justice Umoru Eri called for the constitution of a committee on High Court Civil Procedure Rule as well as the need for the State Judiciary to establish the Kogi State Law Report for the benefits of judicial officers in the State.

In his speech, the outgoing Chief Judge, Justice Richard Olorunju Olorunfemi commended Governor Yahaya Bello led administration for a cordial relationship between the Executive and the judiciary and the seamless transition of leadership in the State Judiciary.

Justice Olorunfemi appealed to the State Government to construct a Ceremonial hall at the State Judiciary headquarters.

While commending Heads of Court in the State and fellow judges for their support so far assured of his continued support in the upliftment of the State Judiciary.

In his message to the occasion, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello promised his continued support to the Judiciary in its quest to sustain the administration of justice.

Represented by his Depuy, Chief Edward Onoja, Governor Bello said all the request made by the Lokoja branch of NBA would be addressed within the shortest possible time.

He described Justice Richard Olorunfemi as a professional and dedicated judicial officer whose impact has placed the State Judiciary on a high pedestal of performance nationwide.