By OLA AJAYI

IBADAN — Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has sworn in six newly-appointed judges of the state High Court, charging them to demonstrate integrity and shun corrupt tendencies in the discharge of their duties.

The appointment of the new judges was announced on May 22 by the governor, thus bringing the number of the judges in the state judiciary to 22.

The new judges include the Chief Registrar of the state High Court, Mrs. O. O. Olatunji; Mr. Bayo Taiwo, from the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, and the immediate past Vice-Chairman of the Ibadan branch of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Lekan Owolabi.

Others are Mr. G. A. Sunmonu, Mrs. O. M. Fadeyi and Mr. E. O. Ajayi.

Governor Ajimobi, while speaking at the swearing-in ceremony held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat, Ibadan, urged the new judges to live above board and not use their powers to pursue ends other than justice.

He said: “The powers of a judge are a sacred trust to decide matters between persons or between government or authority and any person and to determine any question relating to the civil rights and obligations of a person.

“Be fine, outstanding, courageous, brilliant and incorruptible judges, who always stand in defense of the truth.

“Keep the fountain of justice pure at all times, and refrain, absolutely, from subjecting it to any pollution motivated by mercenary, primordial or pecuniary considerations.”