About Us
BRIEF HISTORY OF EKITI STATE JUDICIARY
Historically. Ekiti State was created on October 1, 1996 alongside five other states during the military government of General Sani Abacha. Since Ekiti State was carved out of the old Ondo State and in order not to leave the justice sector in vacuum, Ekiti State Judiciary came into existence with the new State on 1st October, 1996 and was formally inaugurated on 20th January, 1997. The State Judiciary hit the ground running with the swearing in of the pioneer Chief Judge, the late Hon. Justice John Ademola Aiakaiye. The pioneer Chief Judge, his learned brother Judges together with the supporting staff laid a solid foundation upon which the State Judiciary was built. Upon its inauguration, Ekiti State Judiciary took off with four of the nine Judicial Divisions of the old Ondo State, namely Ado Ekiti, Ikere Ekiti, ljero Ekiti and lkole Ekiti. Eight of the fifteen High Court Judges in former Ondo State were deployed to Ekiti State. Eight Magisterial Districts were inherited by Ekiti State Judiciary, while sixteen Magistrates of various cadres were deployed along. The Ekiti State Judiciary inherited 26 Customary Courts along with 68 Presidents and Members that presided over these courts. Four hundred and eighty members of staff were deployed to the State Judiciary from the old Ondo State.
Hon. Justice John Ademola Ajakaiye retired from active service in March, 2003. He was succeeded by Hon. Justice Oyebisi Omoleye who was elevated to the Court of Appeal in June 2006. Hon. Justice Kayode Bamisile took over as Head of Court from June, 2006 till December 2006 when the political crisis in Ekiti State took its toll on the State Judiciary and culminated in four and a half years of which there was no substantive head of court in Ekiti State. Hon. Justice Modupe Fasanmi stepped in as Acting Chief Judge from December, 2006 till February, 2008 when she too was elevated to the Court of Appeal. Upon the elevation of Hon. Justice Modupe Fasanmi, Hon. Justice Silas Oyewole took over as Acting Head of Court in February, 2008 till December 2010 when Hon. Justice Ayodeji Daramola took over as Head of Court in acting capacity. He was subsequently sworn in as the substantive Chief Judge on the 30th day of May, 2012, the position which he held till his retirement on the 30th day of May, 2021. Hon. Justice John Oyewole Adeyeye was sworn in as the Acting Chief Judge on the 31st day of May, 2021. He was subsequently sworn in as the substantive Chief Judge on the 11th day of October, 2021.
Since his assumption of office he has embarked on various developmental projects which include the commissioning of a new Chief Magistrate Court at ldo Ekiti.
Hon. Justice Oyewole Adeyeye as an advocate of efficient and effective dispensation of justice has facilitated the attendance of staff of various cadres at seminars organized by the National Judicial Institute.