Ondo State government has concluded plans to build a new High court complex that would replace the current one at a new location in the state capital, Akure.

The new complex, according to plan, will house about 20 high court rooms, judges’ chambers, a well furnished ceremonial hall, multi door court chambers, JSC Office block and staff clinic among other offices.

Giving this indication was the state governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu while declaring open the 2019/2020 Chief Judge’s seminar held at the Dome, Akure.

The Governor, who was represented by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adekola Olawoye, SAN, said that the current complex will be converted to Ondo State Magistrate Complex.

He promised that his administration will not relent in cushioning the hardship faced by the judiciary which was occasioned by inadequate resources.

He expressed that it understands the utmost need to guarantee the independence of the judiciary and said that granting autonomy to the judiciary is not strange as the law is already in operation.

He said that his government has the unshaken belief that only an independent judiciary can strengthen democracy in Nigeria.

Akeredolu reiterated his continued support and promised not to interfere in the judiciary’s process of administration in order to ensure peace and stability.

Delivering the welcome address, the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olutoyin Akeredolu said the theme of the seminar “independence of the judiciary: a pathway to democratic development” was chosen to address emerging legal trends in Nigeria democracy as it affects the judiciary.

She said that the judiciary is facing a lot of challenges and that in the last two decades, the judiciary had been praised, castigated and vilified.

She posited that in spite of the challenges it faced, the judiciary is still standing, although on knocked knees, to defend the defenseless and restore civil order to the society.

She informed that the governor recently set up a committee to fashion out a framework for the financial autonomy of the judiciary.