By ABDULWAHAB ABDULAH & KEHINDE OLASANMI
LAGOS—Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Monday, tasked Nigerians, particularly judges and lawyers to guide jealously the rule of law for the survival of the nation’s democracy.

The governor, who joined others at the special mosque service at Lagos Central Mosque, on Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, to commemorate the beginning of the 2011/ 2012 legal year, said though the duty  and responsibility of protecting the rule of law rested solely on judges and lawyers, Nigerians should  regard it as a duty to ensure the survival of democracy by supporting democratic institutions.

The Chief  Judge, Justice Inumidun  Akande led other  judges to a service at the Cathedral Church of Christ, Marina, where the Bishop of Lagos and Archbishop of Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos, Reverend Adebola Ademowo, charged the judiciary to work towards ensuring that prisons across the state were decongested.

He charged judges to be upright in the disposition of their duties, noting that in line with the ancient saying that the judiciary is the hope of the common man, their duty was sacred.

The clergy noted that the state judiciary was one of the best and most independent in the world and prayed that it would not be messed up. He said judges, magistrates and lawyers must be voice to the voiceless, knowing that they would render account of their stewardship.

“The judiciary must be fearless and prayerful. Religion and moral are inseparable. Without religion, there cannot be moral and there cannot be law.  A lot of people are depressed and frustrated. We should pray more that the judiciary should not be bastardised. Judges are arbitrators and interpreters of the law,” he added.