The Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, has declared that the state has zero tolerance for corruption within the public service.
Ajulo, who described corruption as an evil, mentioned the state authorities stood firmly against it. The commissioner said this on Monday in Akure, the state capital, whereas talking on the Publish-NBA General Justice Reform 2026, themed ‘Elevating the Bar.’
He mentioned, “Let me state this clearly and with out ambiguity, Ondo State stands firmly against corruption in all its types. Corruption just isn’t a victimless offence. It steals from the poor. It weakens establishments. It destroys public belief. It diverts sources meant for roads, faculties, hospitals, safety and human improvement. It rewards dishonesty and punishes integrity. That’s the reason the state can’t and won’t deal with corruption as regular, acceptable or inevitable.”
Ajulo emphasised that the place of the state authorities on corruption was that public workplace was a belief, not a non-public alternative, stressing that authorities contracts should not grow to be devices for private enrichment.
He continued, ”Public sources should not be diverted for personal acquire. Processes should not be manipulated to favour buddies, associates or political allies and no particular person—nevertheless highly effective, related or influential—ought to think about himself above the regulation. Our anti-corruption place just isn’t about persecution. It’s about accountability. It’s about transparency; it’s about defending the commonwealth. It’s about making certain that each naira entrusted to authorities is utilized for the advantage of the individuals.’
The commissioner said that the state authorities would proceed to strengthen due course of, enhance contract scrutiny, insist on correct authorisation, defend public belongings and help lawful investigations and prosecutions the place wrongdoing was established.
Declaring the occasion open, the state governor, Mr Fortunate Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by his Chief of Employees, Mr Segun Omojuwa, mentioned his administration was dedicated to strengthening the state judiciary.
In keeping with him, his administration amended the regulation to extend the variety of Excessive Courtroom judges from 24 to 35, which he described as the primary such enhance because the creation of Ondo State in 1976.
The governor additionally disclosed that the state had facilitated the employment of 44 extra legal professionals into the state’s authorized service, in addition to authorized a evaluate of magistrates’ remuneration.
He talked about different interventions, together with the institution of an Anti-Land Grabbing Job Power, which the governor described as some of the impactful initiatives of his administration.
He additional disclosed that in Might 2026, the Ondo State Home of Meeting handed amendments to the Ondo State Regulation Fee Regulation, 2001, and the Ondo State Workplace of the Public Defender Regulation, 2024, designed to strengthen the executive and institutional buildings of the 2 businesses and enhance entry to justice for indigent and weak residents.
He mentioned, “Ondo State is ruled by the rule of regulation, and never by whims and caprices. We imagine that authorities should function throughout the framework of the regulation, establishments should be revered, and each citizen, no matter standing, should have confidence that justice, equity and due course of will prevail.”
He charged regulation officers to see themselves not merely as authorities staff however as custodians of justice and advisers to authorities, urging them to advise fearlessly, professionally and objectively whereas defending the professional pursuits of the state in a way in step with regulation, justice and the general public curiosity.
