Kogi State Government has been charged to give full autonomy to it’s judicial arm towards effective dispensation of justice.

The Representative of Body of Benchers, John Ogwu Adele, SAN, made the call at the Valedictory Court Session in honour of Justice Olutimehin Samuel Obayomi of the High Court of Justice in Lokoja.

Adele, SAN, said the full independence of the Judiciary has become imperative to enable it perform it’s constitutional obligations without and interference.

He described Justice Samuel Obayomi as an erudite judge whose years in service was characterized with high sense of integrity and absolute commitment to duty.

Speaking, the Chairman, Lokoja branch of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA, Alhasan Ibrahim also extolled the virtues of Justice Olutimehin Samuel Obayomi as a judge per excellence whose judgement cannot faulted.

Ibrahim appealed to Kogi State Government to facilitate the establishment of a division of Court of Appeal in Lokoja in view of many cases being taken to Abuja on appeal from the State.

In his speech, the State Acting Chief Judge, Justice Josiah Joe Majebi expressed appreciation to Justice Samuel Obayomi for his years of meritorious service to the State and the judiciary.

Justice Majebi assured the retired Justice of his determination to implement most of his recommendations as part of the reforms to be carried out under his watch.

In his speech, Justice Olutimehin Samuel Obayomi called for an urgent reforms in the appointment of Judges to be based on competence, sound learning, unquestionable character and not on political or ethnic patronage.

He also called for independence of Judges to adjudicate over case without interference as well as the need to stamp out corruption in the system.

Justice Obayomi while commending the State Government for it’s support so far to the judicial arm urged the government to purchase vehicles for newly appointed Judges, Magistrates, renovation of courts and judges residence and prompt payment of Pension and gratuity to retired judicial officers.

In a message to the occasion, Governor Yahaya Bello represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Folashade Arike Ayoade promised continued partnership with the judicial arm to fulfil it’s constitutional obligations.