The Ondo State Government has stepped up efforts to reform and strengthen the state’s justice system through judicial expansion, capacity building, improved infrastructure and enhanced protection of public assets.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa stated this on Monday at the Post-NBA Conference Knowledge-Cascading and Interactive Session organised by the State Ministry of Justice in Akure, stressing that the administration remained committed to making the rule of law the foundation of governance.
Speaking on the theme, “Raising the Bar,” Aiyedatiwa said the increase in the number of High Court judges from 24 to 35 was a historic step aimed at reducing workload, clearing case backlogs and improving justice delivery.
He said six judges were appointed in October 2024, while the process for appointing five additional judges had commenced.
The governor also disclosed that 44 additional lawyers had been employed into the state’s legal service, comprising 20 in 2024 and 24 in 2026, while the remuneration of magistrates had been reviewed.
He added that the government had established an Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force to protect property rights and curb unlawful acquisition and dispossession of land, while also investing in judicial infrastructure, including the ultra-modern Judiciary Complex in Akure and renovation of courts in Okitipupa.
Aiyedatiwa said amendments to the Ondo State Law Commission Law, 2001 and the Ondo State Office of the Public Defender Law, 2024, passed by the House of Assembly in May 2026, were aimed at strengthening law reform and improving access to justice, particularly for indigent and vulnerable citizens.
He said the true test of justice-sector reform was the experience of ordinary citizens, asking whether the poor could obtain justice, victims could get timely redress, defendants could receive fair hearing and businesses could rely on the rule of law.
The governor urged government lawyers to see themselves as custodians of justice and professional advisers, rather than merely employees, while calling for continuous training in emerging areas such as artificial intelligence, alternative dispute resolution, data protection, commercial law and technology.
Earlier, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, said the ministry was being repositioned into a stronger, modern and more formidable institution capable of protecting the legal and economic interests of the state.
Ajulo said the ministry had strengthened the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), particularly in disputes involving government agencies, to achieve faster resolution, recover public assets and reduce litigation costs.
He said the ministry had also tightened scrutiny of government contracts, agreements and memoranda of understanding, including verification of the identity, capacity and authority of persons seeking to execute agreements on behalf of companies.
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According to him, the measure followed instances where unauthorised persons had attempted to bind companies in agreements with the state government, stressing that such safeguards were necessary to protect public funds and government property.
Ajulo also said the ministry was contributing to legislative development, including reforms targeting land grabbing, while declaring that Ondo State would maintain a firm position against corruption and the diversion of public resources.
He stressed that public office was a trust and not an avenue for private enrichment, saying, “Public resources must not be diverted for private gain. Processes must not be manipulated to favour friends, associates or political allies.”
The Attorney-General called for greater investment in the Ministry of Justice and Judiciary, particularly in manpower, technology, legal research, case management, court facilities and professional training, noting that the legal profession must adapt to developments in artificial intelligence, digital evidence, cybercrime and data protection.
Ajulo said the essence of the programme was to ensure that knowledge acquired at professional conferences translated into institutional improvement.
He declared that “Knowledge must travel. Knowledge must be shared. Knowledge must become institutional intelligence. And institutional intelligence must ultimately become results.”
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