Child right act: We have established family court ―Ondo chief judge

THE new Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olutoyin Akeredolu, has announced the introduction of Family Court in the State to ensure accelerated hearing on cases relating to violence against women and children.

Akeredolu who stated this during her inauguration as the 11th Chief Judge of the State, said the Family Court with its specialised jurisdiction in child rights and family matters, with a full complement of the registry, is now fully operational in the state.

She said “Counsel and litigants are at liberty to file processes at the said registry as the case may be

“For the sake of the uninformed, the court is set up pursuant to Part XIII ( Section 149- 162) of Ondo State Child Right Law of 2007 for the purpose of hearing and determining matters relating to children.

She explained that the court operates at two levels which included: as a division High Court at the High Court level and as a Magistrate Court at Magistrate level.

The new CJ said the establishment of the Family Court will accelerate prosecution of perpetrators of violence against children and women in the state.

She explained that the court has the power to deal with a matter relating to the enforcement of the right of the child as set aside by the law and also to deal with offences punishable by death.

She said the court will also deal with divorce and custody of the child and hear an appeal from the Court at Magistrate level.

She assured that the Judiciary will continue to give support the child right to ensure that issues of child trafficking, kidnapping, theft and sexual violation are headed for quick dispensation of justice.

The newly inaugurated also disclosed that the Judiciary has been functioning and encourage members of staff and their families to avail themselves of the facility, saying health is wealth.