13, October 2026
Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has charged judges and legal practitioners in the state to place integrity, justice and the rule of law above all other considerations in the discharge of their duties.
The Governor gave the charge on Monday at the Thanksgiving Mass to herald the commencement of the 2026/2027 Legal Year in Delta State.
The Mass was held at Emmanuel the Saviour Catholic Church, Asaba.
Governor Oborevwori, who took the first reading of the day from Exodus 23:1, 3, 6-8, admonished judicial officers to shun all forms of external influence, favouritism and personal interest in the administration of justice.
He noted that the judiciary remains a critical institution for the protection of citizens’ rights, resolution of disputes and preservation of the rule of law, adding that it gives hope to the people that justice can be sought through legitimate and lawful processes.
The Governor lauded members of the Bench and the Bar as well as other stakeholders in the justice sector for their commitment and resilience in spite of challenges faced in the outgone legal year.
Drawing inspiration from Micah 6:8 which enjoins believers to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God, Oborevwori said justice must be dispensed with fairness, impartiality, compassion and high moral integrity.
According to him, justice goes beyond mere interpretation and application of statutes, stressing that it must be administered with conscience, fairness and respect for human dignity.
He reiterated the commitment of his administration to continue to strengthen the judiciary through sustained investment in infrastructure, enhanced welfare for judicial officers and provision of an enabling environment for efficient and effective justice delivery.
Oborevwori described a strong, independent and efficient judiciary as indispensable to peace, security and sustainable development, emphasizing that the judiciary has a constitutional mandate to act as a check on the other arms of government.
He stated: “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.”
The Governor also offered prayers for divine wisdom and courage for judges, integrity and professionalism for lawyers and patience and compassion for all those involved in justice administration.
In his homily, the Catholic Bishop of Issele-Uku, Most Rev. Michael Elue, emphasized the imperatives of fairness, transparency and accountability in justice delivery.
Bishop Elue described the judiciary as a vital pillar of democracy with the enormous responsibility of holding government accountable, safeguarding citizens’ rights and ensuring adherence to the Constitution.
Citing Pope John Paul II’s encyclical, Centesimus Annus, the cleric noted that genuine democracy can only flourish when anchored on the rule of law and sound moral values.
He called for openness and transparency in judicial proceedings, insisting that justice must not only be done, but must be manifestly seen to have been done.
The Bishop warned that the unethical conduct of a few judicial officers was capable of eroding public confidence in the entire judiciary, and therefore urged judges and lawyers to maintain the highest level of professionalism and ethical standards.
