‘Masses are suffering while criminals walk freely’ – Archbishop of African Church

The Archbishop of the African Church, Most Reverend Solomon Ojumu, has charged judges to uphold the rule of law, saying the populace is suffering while perpetrators walk freely due to their ties with individuals in high places.

He noted that the masses are suffering from the sins of the elite who continue to have their way in power while burying their past sins.

Ojumu spoke during a special church service titled “Let Justice Flow,” held to usher in the 2024/2025 Legal Year at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta.

He maintained that when truth and justice are served accordingly, a society can then be truly peaceful.

Ojumu said, “The masses are suffering not silently now but openly without any assistance, and they will continue to suffer because the offenders and criminals are working freely because of the people they know, the officials, the controllers of society. This is not good; let justice flow.

“Today, the masses suffer the sins and errors of the elite who continue to have their way in power and bury their past sins. How long are we going to continue this? When are we going to have a fair state? When will the truth thrive? Justice is very important to maintain peace in a society.”

He urged them to discharge their duties properly, stating that their best may not be enough due to many bad eggs in the profession.

“Discharge your duty accordingly, especially our judiciary in Ogun State. You are doing your best, but your best may not be enough.

“Use it to depopulate criminal acts in our society. Don’t take it as an opportunity, and I know you are all learned; it’s a noble profession. But we who are not learned, please assist us in discharging your duty quickly to dispense justice accordingly.”

In his remarks, Governor Dapo Abiodun maintained that justice is a collective responsibility and assured of his administration’s continuous support in fostering an environment conducive to the rule of law.

“On this note, I call on all our judges to reciprocate our administration’s support with even better service delivery and a heightened sense of duty. We must not become complacent. There are still many areas where improvements are needed.

“We must work together to address the lingering backlog of cases, explore alternative methods of dispute resolution, such as arbitration and mediation, and invest in the necessary training and resources for our legal professionals.”

The Chief Judge of the State, Hon Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, assured of the quick dispensation of justice, adding that while more hands are needed, the governor is aware of what it takes.

“We have been trying our best; we promise to continue to work hard and dispose of cases speedily. Well, we need more judges. To get more judges, we need provisions of infrastructure like courts, judges’ quarters, and vehicles. The governor knows what it takes to appoint more judges, and he is aware.”