In a bid to enhance speedy administration of justice in Osun State, Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, on Wednesday commissioned the Justice Research Center in Osogbo, just as he observed that effective judicial system will aid economic growth.
The center, situated in the premises of the State High Court of Justice Complex, Osogbo, is equipped with state-of-the -art facilities for research and speedy judicial service delivery.
Facilities at the center include: a server room, 30 computer sets, internet facilities, printers, scanners, 20KVA inverter that can run for twenty four hours among others.
Speaking at the commissioning of the project put together by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in collaboration with the European Union (EU), Aregbesola assured the donors that the state will ensure that the center is accessed from any part of the state withing four months.
The governor emphasised the need for every individual to have access to justice as it is one of the ways through which the economy can also grow.
Aregbesola pointed out that no economy can grow where there is injustice, stressing that no investor would want to put money in a society where adequate justice delivery system is lacking.
He assured the donor agency of the state’s readiness to make maximum use of the facility, stressing that the center will be widely publicised and guided jealously.
He said, “We want everyone to have access to justice in our state. We want criminals and the recipients of the crime to have access to justice, that’s why we are happy about this.
“Many people don’t know that the growth of any economy is also tied to the efficient and speedy delivery of justice in such a society.
“The economy cannot grow when there is no justice. I can absolutely tell you that nobody will be ready to put his money in a society where there is no adequate dispensation of justice.
“We are so happy about what you have given to us through this center. I assure you that we will make good use of it. We will publicise it and make sure it is accessible to whoever needs it.
“I want you to know that I will commission our Ministry of Innovation Science and Technology to work and see to it that this center can be accessed from any part of the state within the next four months.”
In an address, Chief Judge of the state, Hon Justice Adepele Ojo, said the establishment of the center is in a bid to take justice delivery in the state to a world standard.
She explained that the centre will aid judicial workers in the state to be at par with their peers from any part of the world, while also appealing to the donor agency to continue to remember the state with more interventions programmes .
“This center will go a long way in enhancing justice delivery in the state and assist judicial workers in the state to raise their standards in terms of justice delivery.
“The overall idea of this is to deliver a world class research center in the judiciary in a bid to make our judicial workers stand shoulder high among their peers.
The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Bashiru Ajibola, while delivering a goodwill message noted that any contribution to the judiciary is highly important to the plan of the governor of the state to achieve the delivery of fair and speedy judgement to all.
He charged all stakeholders in the judicial sector to work in harmony in a bid to promote fair justice delivery to all and sundry in the state.
He commended the efforts of the UNODC for counting Osun worthy of the center, stressing that it goes a long way in emphasising the importance of Osun to the entire world.
“All hands must be on deck to take judicial delivery to the next level in every nook and cranny of the world in a bid to aid smooth judicial service delivery.
“Justice delivery system all over the world has gone digital for it to be quickly delivered. Judicial workers needs to engage in research and modern methods of delivery for justice not to be delayed or denied.
“We are happy for this judicial research center because it is obvious that this will go a long way in assisting justice delivery in our state,” Ajibola stated.
Representative of the UNODC, Miss Christina Albertini, stated that the aim of the project is to assist governments across the world to be able to uphold the rule of law to all manners of people.
She added that it is also to assist judicial workers to enhance their capacity through information and communications technology, while urging the state to make good use of the facility.
“We will continue to do all we can as an organisation to see that equitable justice is delivered to all at all times.
“We don’t want anyone to be denied access to justice and we are particular about the children in this regards”. Miss Albertini stated.
