Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has urged judges and lawyers to ensure that justice is not influenced by favouritism, personal interests or external pressure.
The governor gave the charge on Monday at a thanksgiving Mass marking the commencement of the 2026/2027 Legal Year in Delta State, held at Emmanuel the Saviour Catholic Church, Asaba.
Oborevwori, who took the first Bible reading from Exodus 23:1, 3, 6-8, said the judiciary had a responsibility to protect citizens’ rights, resolve disputes and uphold the rule of law.
He urged judicial officers and legal practitioners to remain impartial and ensure that justice was administered fairly and without unnecessary delay.
“As we begin the new Legal Year, I urge judicial officers and legal practitioners to remain steadfast in upholding the highest standards of their profession. Let justice be administered impartially and expeditiously. Let integrity remain the foundation of our conduct, and let the rule of law prevail over influence, favouritism or personal interest,” he said.
The governor, quoting Micah 6:8, said justice required fairness, compassion, humility and integrity, adding that the administration of justice should respect human dignity.
He commended judicial officers, lawyers and other stakeholders for their dedication despite the challenges encountered in the previous legal year.
Oborevwori reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the judiciary through infrastructure development, improved welfare and the provision of an enabling environment for effective justice delivery.
He described an independent and effective judiciary as essential to peace, security and sustainable development, noting that it also had a constitutional responsibility to check the other arms of government.
In his homily, Bishop Elue called for fairness, transparency and accountability in the administration of justice, describing the judiciary as a critical pillar of democracy.
The cleric said the courts had a responsibility to hold government accountable, protect citizens’ rights and ensure compliance with the Constitution.
Citing Pope John Paul II’s encyclical, Centesimus Annus, he said democracy could only thrive where the rule of law and sound moral values were upheld.
He also urged the judiciary to ensure that justice was not only done but seen to be done, warning that the misconduct of a few judicial officers could weaken public confidence in the entire institution.
The bishop called on judges and lawyers to maintain high standards of professionalism and ethical conduct in the discharge of their duties.
