Gov Aiyedatiwa Approves Recruitment of 500 New Amotekun Officers

Towards strengthening Ondo State’s security architecture, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has sanctioned the recruitment and training of 500 new officers for the Amotekun Corps. The Governor made this announcement on Friday, November 28, during the historic revival and inauguration of 130 new Justices of the Peace (JPs), a grassroots justice initiative dormant for nearly 17 years.

Governor Aiyedatiwa, alongside the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, and the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Olusegun Odusola, led the inauguration ceremony. The newly appointed JPs, drawn from diverse backgrounds, embody the state’s commitment to inclusiveness and grassroots legal empowerment.

Describing the event as a milestone for local justice delivery, Governor Aiyedatiwa emphasized its alignment with the administration’s OUR EASE agenda’s focus on “Order, Security, and the Rule of Law.” He urged the JPs to exercise their duties with integrity, wisdom, and fairness to enhance peace and security at the community level.

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The Governor also highlighted broader judicial reforms underway, including the recruitment of additional state counsels, judicial expansion, and near completion of a new Judiciary Complex equipped with ceremonial and modular courts, as well as a law library—all geared toward delivering timely justice.

Attorney General Dr. Ajulo traced the JP institution’s roots to 14th-century England and explained its vital legal and community functions, including mediating disputes, maintaining public order, and certifying documents. Chief Judge Odusola, who administered the oath to the appointees, stressed their quasi-judicial roles and community responsibilities, further underscoring the office’s importance.

The roll of newly sworn JPs includes prominent figures such as Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly Olamide Oladiji, traditional rulers including the Olowo of Owo, the Deji of Akure, and the Osemawe of Ondo, alongside top security officials and distinguished community, religious, and professional leaders.

This dual effort to enhance local security through Amotekun’s reinforcement and grassroots justice via the JP office marks a significant step in Ondo State’s commitment to law and order, community harmony, and judicial innovation.