Ayade swears in two new judges, SSG ...charges them on fairness

By Ashie Osor

Cross River governor, Prof Ben Ayade, Thursday, at the state executive chamber, Governor's office, Calabar,  swore in two new judges, with a charge on them not to compromise on justice delivery.
The newly sworn in judges were, Justices (Prof) Victor Ani Offiong and Angela Obi.

Also sworn in was Barr Tina Banku Agbor, as the Secretary to the state government.

Charging them immediately after their oath of office, Ayade reminded them that "any compromise that questions the imprisonment of an innocent person or brings about injustice to an innocent person, it will hunt you and hunt you for life."

 While urging them to render their services with the fear of God, Governor Ayade charged the Judges: "God has chosen you to represent the conscience of the society, the defender of the common man, the protector of fairness and equity and to do away with anything that is repugnant to natural justice."

He maintained that "having been elevated to a stool where your morality and conscience decide the fate of people, where by your own decision a man can be put behind bars and by your own decision a life can be taken, your job is to carry out the service of God."

Ayade further warned that "no amount of excitement, political pressure or money should make you compromise justice because I believe in retributive justice and I believe in karma."

 Responding, Justice Offiong who thanked God and the governor on their elevation assured that in judging the affairs of men, they will always remember that the actual affairs of men are controlled from the spiritual realm, hence the need to make the people proud and the state prosper.

"In the spirit of that spiritual realm," Justice Offiong intimated, "not only have you given us the mandate to judge the affairs of men, you have also given us the amulet to judge demons."

Offiong also added: "We used to hear of the trinity of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost, but today history is being made because there is a re-incarnation, re-enactment and re-endorsement of the trinity government in Cross River by the confidence being reposed in us today."