Oyo Invests 345 New Justices of the Peace

​The Oyo State Government has formally decorated 345 citizens as Justices of the Peace (JP), framing the appointments as a strategic move to decentralize the administration of justice and bolster the “Rule of Law” pillar of the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration.

​At a ceremony held Thursday at the House of Chiefs in Ibadan, Deputy Governor Barr. Adebayo Lawal issued a stern reminder that the JP title is a constitutional responsibility rather than a social trophy. He cautioned the new inductees against transforming their roles into “business ventures,” warning that the state maintains the right to withdraw the honor from anyone found abusing the office.

​A Mandate for Local Stability

​The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Hon. Abiodun Adedeji Aikomo, described the JPs as “social engineers” tasked with maintaining the structural integrity of the legal system at the grassroots. Their duties are expected to include:

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• ​Conflict Mediation: De-escalating land disputes and commercial frictions in major markets like Bodija and Akesan.
• ​Document Verification: Certifying legal documents to protect citizens from fraud.
• ​Peace Building: Acting as moral anchors and mediators within their immediate communities.

​Zero Tolerance for Misconduct

​The judiciary, represented by Hon. Justice Adedeji Ishola on behalf of the Chief Judge, emphasized that the office demands strict adherence to legal principles, patience, and transparency. This was echoed by Prof. Adeniyi Olatunbosun, who delivered an enlightenment lecture urging the appointees to thoroughly vet every document before appending their signatures.

​The event, attended by high-ranking officials and religious leaders—including the Chief Imam of Ibadan land—concluded with a charge for the 345 citizens to serve as credible ambassadors of the Omituntun 2.0 agenda.