Ekiti State Chief Judge, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, has identified integrity, courage, and commitment as indispensable values for a just and effective judicial system.
Justice Ogunmoye made this known in Ado-Ekiti during a public lecture marking the commencement of the 2025 Law Week of the Ado-Ekiti Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
He emphasized that without integrity, courage, and genuine commitment, the instruments of justice risk becoming mere symbols incapable of driving the development the nation urgently requires. The Chief Judge described the theme of the lecture—“The Role of the Wig in National Development: Toy Guns in the Hands of the Watchman”—as thought-provoking and a clarion call for deep reflection among legal and judicial officers at a critical moment in the nation’s history.
Justice Ogunmoye urged practitioners across the legal profession to give their best toward national growth and development.
Delivering his goodwill message, the Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, SAN, commended the organizers for selecting what he termed a highly relevant and timely theme. He noted that “when the wig is worn without the ethical weight it demands, it becomes mere theatre—a hollow symbol. But when worn with understanding and responsibility, it becomes the true weapon of the watchman: justice.”
Apata also highlighted the commitment of the Oyebanji administration to a modern and efficient justice system, noting initiatives such as the recruitment of 21 new legal officers in 2024 to strengthen the state’s legal workforce. He commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for creating an enabling environment that supports reforms within the justice sector.
He expressed appreciation to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, SAN, for personally attending and delivering the public lecture.
In his presentation, Dr. Ajulo—who also served as the keynote speaker—described the lecture theme as a metaphor reflecting both the profound responsibilities and the challenges facing legal practitioners in shaping Nigeria’s development. He stated that lawyers, as society’s watchmen, bear the monumental responsibility of upholding justice and safeguarding the rule of law, even as their efforts are often constrained by systemic limitations, public perception, and increasing complexities in legal practice.
Dr. Ajulo urged members of the NBA Ado-Ekiti Branch to remain steadfast in elevating the legal profession and contributing meaningfully to national development.
Earlier in his welcome address, Chairman of the NBA Ado-Ekiti Branch, Dr. Taiwo Omidoyin, explained that the forum was designed not only for celebration, but also for reflection and re-strategizing toward improved legal practice and justice administration in Ekiti State. He noted that the theme—“The Role of the Wig in National Development: Toy Guns in the Hands of Watchmen”—is a playful yet pointed reminder that lawyers must go beyond upholding tradition to becoming architects of justice and integrity.
Dr. Omidoyin appreciated the support of the Attorney General, Mr. Dayo Apata, SAN; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Sunday Bamise, Esq.; and other judiciary and High Court staff for their continuous support to the Ado-Ekiti Branch of the NBA.
Dignitaries at the event included former Ekiti State Attorney General, Barr. Owoseni Ajayi; the Dean, Faculty of Law, Ekiti State University, Prof. Babalola Abejunde; as well as other senior members of the Bar.