3 Mar 2026
The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye, has urged newly inducted judges in the state to firmly entrench moral values, equity, and fairness in the discharge of their duties.
Aribasoye gave the charge on Monday at the Introduction to Bar and Bench ceremony for newly sworn-in judges, held at the State High Court in Ado Ekiti.
Olanike Adegoke, Julius Bamise, Julius Ajibare, Stephen Akinyede, and Adefunke Anoma were recently sworn in as judges by the Governor of the State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji.
Congratulating the judges on their well-deserved elevation, the Speaker urged them to adhere strictly to the ethics of their profession.
“You inherit a vocation that demands not only legal acumen but moral integrity, courage, and impartiality Your robes symbolize a covenant with the people—an enduring promise to adjudicate with fairness, to listen with patience, and to decide with clarity and courage, even when the path is arduous or the pressures are great.” Aribasoye said.
Highlighting the need for judges not to be swayed by status or influence, Aribasoye implored them to prioritize integrity, exercise compassion in discernment, demonstrate courage in upholding the vulnerable, and continually upgrade their knowledge.
He stated: “Justice must be accessible, intelligible, timely, and fair to every citizen, regardless of status, wealth, or influence. It is the compass by which we steer our civic ship toward equity, peace, and communal progress.”
Rt. Hon. Aribasoye also emphasized the importance of a positive partnership between the bench and the bar, as well as the roles of the executive and legislature in maintaining a legal framework that adequately supports the judiciary.
“To the Executive and Legislature, we reaffirm our shared responsibility to create and sustain a robust legal framework that supports judicial independence, provides adequate resources, and fosters ongoing professional development,” Aribasoye added.
“Let us also recognize the vital partnership between the bench and the bar. Counsel and litigants appear before you with trust in the system; it is our duty to preserve that trust by ensuring decorum, courtesy, and adherence to the highest standards of ethical practice. Respect for the rule of law must be evident in every courtroom interaction and every written decision,” he said.
Babajide Agbeyo
Special Adviser (Media) to the Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly
