A former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Ondo State, Sir Charles Titiloye, has expressed appreciation to the people of the Sunshine State for the immense support given to him....CONTINUE READING
Titiloye, in a statement he personally signed on Sunday, listed his achievements since his inception at the Ministry.
Below is the full statement:
APPRECIATION TO THE GOVERNMENT AND GOOD PEOPLE OF ONDO STATE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND COMMISSIONER FOR JUSTICE.
I humbly wish to express my profound gratitude to the Government and good people of Ondo state for the opportunity to serve as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State between 30th of November, 2020 and 23rd of January, 2024. I am greatly honored to have creditably led the state as the Chief Law officer of the state during this period. It was a period of taking serious decision aimed at reforming the Justice sector of the state and ensuring the peace, security and stability of the state.
I appreciate the Former Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi O. Akeredolu SAN for finding me worthy to be appointed as the Attorney General of Ondo State. The same way, I appreciate his successor in office, Governor (Hon.) Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa for the support given to me while he was in office as the Deputy Governor and during the brief period I worked with him after he became the substantive Governor of the state.
ONDO STATE JUSTICE SECTOR UNDER THE WATCH OF SIR CHARLES TITILOYE KSM FCArb.
The office of the Attorney General is central to law and order and timely dispensation of Justice in the State. Late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN is an epitome of great virtue; he supported all my efforts at bringing reforms to public administration and governance in the state. Let me highlight some of the landmark decision taken under my watch as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
1. DEPARTMENTAL REFORMS IN THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE.
On assuming office as the Attorney General of the State, I noticed that Ministry of Justice was stagnant with more than 10 officers on grade level 17 heading the few departments in the Ministry and with no opportunity for the promotion of the junior officers to the management cadre. Also litigating files and resolvable cases choked the Department of civil Litigation.
Consequently with approval of the Governor, I established the DEPARTMENT OF COUNSELING, ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ARBITRATION. The department handles the recommendation of regular and periodic release of convicts from the correctional centre by the Governor and ensures proper counseling and their re-integration with the larger society. Also the department ensured that cases are settled amicably through ADR in order to reduce the waste of public/private funds on Courts litigation and ensure quick resolution of disputes. Arbitration is a common provision in modern Memorandum of Understanding, this department worked to arbitrate and ensure contentious issues in Government agreement are quickly resolved amongst parties without any need for litigation.
CREATION OF DEPARTMENT OF LEGAL SERVICES IN MINISTRIES, DEPARTMENT AND AGENCIES.
For the first time in the History of Ondo State, Department of Legal Services were created in the MDA(s) and Lawyers were deployed to other Ministries to ensure prompt delivery of legal advice to ministries in the course of execution of Government policies. This has averted unnecessary litigation against the government and made the common man to see Government as a developmental partner.
2. RESTRUCTURING OF THE EXISTING DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES UNDER THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE.
All the existing Departments were repositioned for efficiency with specific attention on core departments like:
A. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PROSECUTION. (DPP)
The DPP was restructured through the creation of (2) units
i. Private Prosecution Units monitoring all private prosecution granted by the Fiat of the Attorney General.
ii. Criminal Appeal Unit handling quick dispensation of Justice in cases at the appellate Courts.
Quick issuance of legal advice and attendance of counsel in Court for criminal trial was given priority under my watch.
B. OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATOR GENERAL AND PUBLIC TRUSTEE.(AG/PT)
The AG/PT was made more independent and efficient under my watch, The office was reposition to attend more to the public, generate revenue for Government through administration of estates and the creation of Affidavit Unit within the Department. A new standard procedure for deposition to oath was established.
ONDO STATE LAW COMMISSION.
The Law Commission was described as moribund before my appointment as the Attorney General of the State. On my appointment as the A. G. the commission was given a new lease of life, a female law officer with PHD (Doctorate degree) in law was deployed to man the Commission as the Secretary and the dilapidating structure was renovated to ensure recommencement of operation.
PUBLICATION OF POCKETS OF LAWS.
With the approval of Mr. Governor, I directed the Law Commission to start the publication of pocket of laws of Ondo State to meet the need of lawyers, Judges and the general public desirous of accessing crucial laws in the state. Many laws including the following laws/ practice direction has been published by the Commission.
i. Ondo State Security Network Law (Amotekun Corps) and its amendment.
ii. Child Rights Law.
iii. Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of Ondo State.
iv. Ondo State Multi Door Court Laws,
v. Ondo state livestock rearing Law (Anti open grazing law)
vi. Practice direction on application for fiat from the office of Attorney General of the State.
vii. Ondo State Violence against Person Prohibition Law. (VAPP LAW).
viii. Ondo State Public Complaint, Financial crime and Anti Corruption law.
Ondo State Law.
IX. Anti kidnapping Law.
X. White paper on Justice Ajama commission on Chieftaincy matter.
Ondo state Law Commission has now been listed as one of the revenue generating agency in the state due to regular sales of books and publications.
OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENDER.
For the first time since the 17 years of establishment of the Office of the Public Defender, the Governing board was appointed and inaugurated by the Governor of the state on the recommendation of the Office of Attorney General of the State.
The Following Human Right groups/Agencies were accredited to send in Board Members
1. Committee for Defence of Human Rights. (CDHR)
2. Justice, Development, and Peace Commission (JDPC).
3. Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
Four New Department were created:
a. Department of Public Defence.
b. Department of Public Complaint.
c. Department of Public Enlightenment.
d. Department of Human Rights.
Office of Public Defender was moved to a new accommodation, it was granted a full autonomy from Ministry of Justice, necessary complimentary civil servants staffs were deployed to the agency and today OPD now has its budgetary allocation directly from the state Government. The agency presently has been able to intervene and protect the rights of the common citizenry of the state.
3. COMPLIMENTARY SERVICES TO THE GOVERNMENT.
I diligently worked to ensure the making and passage of more than 30 Executive bills some of which has been passed by Ondo State House of Assembly into law.
My office offered complimentary services in respect of the Implementation and publishing of Government White Paper on the Hon. Justice Ajama Chieftaincy Commission Report and promotion and elevation of Obas in Ondo State.
The office of Attorney General of Ondo State under my watch worked on the implementation of the report/Passage of enabling laws and White paper on Creation of Local Government Development Area in Ondo State. Ondo State now has 51 LGA/LCDA.
To uplift the educational standard in Ondo state, some schools were returned to the mission. I prepared the Framework and Memorandum of Understanding for handing over some public schools back to the mission. To date Aquinas College, Akure, St Louis Secondary school, Ondo and some Primary schools have been returned to the owner, the Catholic Church.
I made it as a priority to personally prepare and appear in cases involving the State Government and secure Judgment in favour of the Government. Some the cases impacted directly on the life of the people including the recent Judgment of the Supreme Court on scarcity of Naira notes and Swapping of Naira Notes for new ones in Nigeria. (Attorney General of Ondo State Vs. Attorney General of the Federation.)
4. STAFF WELFARE
I prioritize the welfare of the staff of Ondo State Ministry of Justice, Law Commission and Office of Public Defender.
To this extent I ensure regular payment of Practicing Fees for Lawyers and regular attendance of Lawyers at the Annual Bar Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association.
To keep the ethics of Legal profession in terms of proper dressing for Lawyers both in the office and in the Court, I ensure annual payment of Wardrobe/Outfit Allowances to lawyers in the Ministry of Justice and the MDA(s).
LAWYER COURT SHUTTLE CARS
I established a Court Shuttle consisting of 5 (five) Toyota Cars to regularly conveyed lawyers to Court and presently in year 2024 budget a fix sum of N10 million has been appropriated and approved by Mr. Governor to regularly fuel the vehicle in order to ensure Lawyers promptly attend Court.
IN-HOUSE TRAINING IN LAW FOR LAW OFFICERS
For the first time in the Ondo State Ministry of Justice, I established an annual in-house training programme for Law Officers. Resource person were invited annually to train lawyers and certificate of participation were issued.
5. ON JUDICIARY/ GOVERNMENT COMMITTEES.
I ensured a cordial relationship between the judiciary and the executive arm of Government. The independence and finality of Courts in respect of issue before it was upheld under my watch as the Attorney General.
As a member of Judicial Service Commission, I worked with my colleagues to ensure regular appointment of High Court Judges, Magistrates and appointment of Chief Judge for the state.
Emphasis was placed on competence and seniority in all the exercise.
Towards the construction of a modern High Court Complex in Ondo State, the Architectural design of a modern High Court premises has been drawn and the new site has been cleared. The contract for the construction of premises was prepared by the Ministry of Justice and same has been approved by the Governor. Adequate provision has been made in 2024 budget for the building and construction of the New High Court premises for Ondo State.
To decongest the Court and quicken criminal trials, Special Criminal Courts were created in Akure by the Chief Judge on the request from my office.
The Task Force on trafficking in Human Person under my Chairmanship embarked on regular public sensitization, road show and conferences to bring to fore the danger in trafficking in human person. I personally led some of the campaigns to markets and public institution in the state. Offenders were prosecuted (or counsel sometimes) while victims were rehabilitated.
6. CONCLUSION.
This letter of appreciation cannot completely capture my contribution to governance in the state as some official steps cannot be publicly disclosed here. My watchword in public office is integrity and due adherence to due process and rule of law. Such a great commitment in the present day Nigeria has its attendance risk and sacrifices. But we thank God for making it possible for us to triumph and succeed.
I look forward to publishing a book on my activities and speeches as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
Let me appreciate the Chairman and Members of the dissolved Ondo State executive Council for the cordial and mutual corporation we had while working together.
I thank Justices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of Ondo State, Hon. Justices of the Ondo State High Court/Customary Court of Appeal, Magistrates, Customary Courts and Court officials and administrative structure led by the Chief Registrar of Ondo state High Court for your support to ensure that I had a successful tenure.
I appreciate the staffs of Ministry of Justice, supporting MDA(s) and the entire workforce of Ondo State for the efficient way we worked jointly to improve the state and the Justice sector.
My eternal gratitude to Almighty God, the Great one who made us who we are.
Thanks to my wife, family, Friends, President of our nation, our party leaders/members, Ministers, former and serving Governors and well wishers. Your encouragement was a source of strength while I was in public office.
We acted not for today but for posterity and for the generation of our unborn children! Great ideas are not usually welcomed in the beginning but once sow as a seed, it will lead to bountiful harvest for the people!
I shall keep the flag flying friends no matter the situation.
God bless you all.
Sir Charles Titiloye ksm FCArb.
