The Deputy Governor of Delta State, Deacon Kingsley Otuaro took the first Bible reading during the thanksgiving mass to mark the beginning of the 2022/2023 legal year in the state.
The service, which was held at the Emmanuel The Saviour Catholic Church, High Court Road, Asaba, State Capital, had many legal icons in attendance.
Otuaro, Hon. Justice T. O. Diai, Chief judge, Delta State and Hon. Justice P.O. Elumeze , President Customary Court of Appeals were first to take turn, dancing to the alter to thank God at the service.
In his homily, the officiating Priest, Most Rev. Michael Odogwu Elue, enjoined the Judiciary to be committed to the administration of Justice and pursuits of peace, adding that it was an obligation, social and legal contract.
“For you, who are sworn and committed to the administration of Justice, the pursuit of peace must be more than a mere wish; it is an obligation; it is a social as well as a legal contract; it is a bond from which you in honour cannot draw back,” he said.
He described judiciary personnel as fearer of God, that maintained the tradition of making the new legal year to commence before God in the church.
According to Elue “one can easily say that the judiciary plays a divine role and shared in the divine power.”
“Little wonder then that all of you, who are fearer of God, maintain this tradition in Nigeria and our Delta State, particularly of making the new legal year to commence before God in the church in order to invoke the help of the course of heaven upon our divine human course here on earth, ” he averred.