The state of Osun chief judge, Hon. Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo has inaugurated a six-member committee for the review of the Osun State High Court (civil procedure) Rules, 2008.

The six member committee has as its Chairman Hon. Justice Moshood Adeigbe. While Magistrate Asimiyu Adebayo will serve as the secretary. Other members of the committee includes the dean faculty of law, Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Ademola Popoola, Chief Wuyi Adeyemo, Chief barrister Yomi Aliu, and barrister O. C. Ogbewe.

The Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Ojo, while speaking during the inauguration said, the said Rules which was fashioned after Lagos State High Court (civil procedure) Rules, 2004, came into existence to fast-track and ensure effective determination of civil matters in Osun State. She stated further that the Lagos State High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2004, which serves as the template for Osun State Rules of the high court, has been reviewed for more than one occasion. " I however know as a fact that the Lagos State Rules of Court of year 2004, which had a great influence on the provision of our own Rules of Court, had been reviewed on more than one occasion".

The committee amongst others has at its terms of reference, to do a critical appraisal of the provisions of the Osun State High Court Amended (civil procedure) Rules, 2008 with a view to identifying procedural hitches and bottlenecks militating against the quick, effective and expeditious determination of cases by the court.

Picture: from L-R Hon. Justice Moshood Adeigbe(Chairman), Professor Ademola Popoola, Barrister O. C. Ogbewe, Chief Wuyi Adeyemo, Chief Barrister Yomi Aliu, and Magistrate Asimiyu Adebayo (Secretary) during their inauguration as the member of the committee for the review of Osun state high court amended (civil procedure) Rules, 2008.

Also, the committee is expected to call and receive memoranda from respective stakeholders in the justice administration sector in the state, inclusive of honourable Judges, Magistrates, State Counsels, the Nigerian Bar Association, the academia, as well as from the members of the general public. They are also expected to formulate and propose new provisions to be inserted into the Rules and/or make recommendations as to the amendments to be made to the existing provision with a view to making the Osun State High Court Rules effective and efficient in meeting the challenges of modern day litigations. The committee has 3 calendar months from the day of inauguration to submit its report.

Adeyinka Adeleke, Press Officer, Osun State High Court of Justice.