The Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji Aikomo, has asserted that the Ministry of Justice remains the core engine room of government, operating behind the scenes to ensure that all government activities are conducted under the rule of law.
Aikomo made this known while addressing journalists during the afternoon session of the ongoing Omituntun 2.0 Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing held at Oyo State Secretariat in Ibadan on Friday.
In his impassioned remarks, Aikomo explained that the ministry may not construct roads or bridges, but its impact is felt in the seamless functioning of society. “We lawyers build no bridges, we raise no towers. But we smooth out difficulties, relieve stress, correct mistakes, and uphold peace. Without law, there can be no organized society,” he stated.
He described the Ministry of Justice as being at the heart of governance, noting that every government department, agency, or policy must align with legal frameworks developed and overseen by the ministry. “There is no ministry that does not interface with us. The government itself is a creation of law. We ensure that everything is done by due process,” he said.
Highlighting the core departments within the ministry, Aikomo listed units such as Public Prosecutions, Civil Litigation, Legal Drafting (Parliamentary Counsel), Contract Review, Mediation, and the Office of the Administrator-General and Public Trustee. Each plays a unique role in addressing criminal justice, civil disputes, gender-based violence, estate administration, and legislative drafting.
On justice delivery, the AG disclosed that the Civil Litigation Department alone is handling over 3,000 cases across courts in all zones of Oyo State. “Our lawyers are in court every day from Ibadan to Saki to Ogbomoso, defending the state against a variety of suits,” he noted.
Speaking on criminal justice challenges, Aikomo narrated a recent case involving the rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl, lamenting infrastructural and procedural bottlenecks such as lack of video equipment for evidence collection, as required by law. “The system has independent institutions that must work together, but limited resources hinder swift justice,” he added.
He also addressed ongoing concerns such as land grabbing, banditry, and kidnapping, noting that the ministry collaborates with law enforcement and the courts to prosecute offenders. “Land grabbing has become disturbingly rampant. We receive petitions daily, and we are prosecuting many offenders in courts across the state,” he said.
Responding to a question on the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on local government financial autonomy, Aikomo clarified that while the ruling is binding, its execution depends on practical modalities, especially involving the Federal Government and the Accountant General of the Federation. “There’s no automaticity in law or even in judgments. Implementation requires thoughtful planning,” he said.
He also commended Governor Seyi Makinde’s commitment to the rule of law, as outlined in the Omituntun 2.0 Roadmap for Sustainable Development. According to him, the establishment of the Oyo State Mobilisation Agency for Socio-Economic Development (OMASE), the Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority, and the recruitment of 40 new state counsels and 35 support staff are clear signs of the governor’s dedication to justice reforms.
In closing, Aikomo described the Ministry of Justice as a “non-visible but indispensable” driver of social order and government integrity. “Everything we do in Oyo State Government today is rooted in law. That is the guarantee of fairness, order, and development,” he concluded.
