By Onozure Dania & Jane Echewodo

The Lagos State Governor,  Akinwunmi Ambode has said that his administration is determined to enthrone the rule of law and protect the less privileged.

Governor  Ambode said this, yesterday, during a Church service at the Cathedral Church in Marina Lagos, to mark the commencement of the 2016/2017 legal year for the Lagos Judiciary.

Ambode urged the Lagos State judiciary to discharge its duties with the fear of God, adding that the judiciary remained the last hope of the citizenry.

He said: “Our administration is determined to enthrone the rule of law, and protect the less privileged, and that is why we lay so much emphasis on judicial sector reform, which I believe should be replicated everywhere. I want to urge us to discharge our duties with the fear of God so that the Lagos judiciary continues to retain its pride of place in the nation’s judiciary.’’

Ambode also admonished members of the judiciary to ensure that their duties are discharged diligently so as to promote and enhance effective justice delivery.

The service presided by the Lord Bishop of the Lagos Mainland, Rt. Rev. Johnson Akinpelu was also attended by serving judges and magistrates of the High Court and Magistrates’ courts in Lagos State, as well as senior advocates of Nigeria and senior lawyers .

Also at the Lagos Central Mosque service, the head, Department of Religions and Peace Studies, Lagos State University, Ojo, Prof. Lateef Adetona, delivered the new legal year lecture, advising judges and magistrates to be wary of receiving gifts from members of the society emphasizing that such gifts could later impact negatively on them in the course of dispensing justice.