Edo Chief Judge Delivers Distinguished Public Lecture
The Chief Judge of Edo State, Hon. Justice Esohe Ikponmwen recently delivered the 1st Public lecture of the Faculty of Law, Benson Idahosa University.
The Lecture entitled “The Art and Essentials of Judgement Writing: A Critical Appraisal of the Judgement of Pontius Pilate” was chaired by the Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, Prof. Sam Guobadia.
Delivering the lecture, Justice Ikponmwen said the record and trial in the case of Jesus Christ demonstrated apparent perversity and gross injustice from a case actuated by malice and bad blood.
“It was a desperate situation which was a travesty of justice, which needed to be overturned and of course this was done after Jesus Christ cried to His Father from the Cross of Calvary,” she said.
She thanked the University Management for the decision to honour her.
“I appreciate the University Management and the organisers of this event especially for the latitude given to me in the choice of topic to speak on. May I posthumously congratulate the founder of this great institution, the Archbishop Benson Idahosa of blessed memory for his foresight and determination in daring where it looked impossible to establish this great institution which no doubt is a product of good judgment,” she said.
She promised to continually support the University and further enthrone justice in the state.
Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor of Benson Idahosa University, Prof. Sam Guobadia, thanked Justice Ikponmwen for accepting to deliver the 1st in the Faculty of Law lecture series.
The Vice Chancellor also announced that the new Faculty of Law lecture theatre annex has been named after the guest lecturer, Justice Ikponmwen.
“We are also glad to inform you that the lecture theatre has been named after Hon. Justice, Chief Judge of Edo State, Esohe Ikponmwen.”
Showering encomiums on the guest lecturer, the Dean, Faculty of Law, Stella Idehen, said the Justice has played several roles in the Faculty, which has impacted many staff and students.
“On behalf of the staff and students of the Faculty of Law welcome everyone to this august occasion, this is because this is the first public lecture to be hosted by the Faculty of Law. We are excited because this lecture will birth many more lectures,” he said.
At the public lecture, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, pledged the sum of N25 million to the Justice Esohe Ikponmwen Scholarship Programme to train female lawyers in the state.
Obaseki said the Board of Trustees of Ikponmwen Foundation would come up with modalities on how the female beneficiaries would be selected as well as the higher institutions they would attend.
He said Justice Ikponmwen has stood out as a prolific judicial officer and her tenure as the Chief Judge of the State has helped to strengthen the judiciary in the state.
“We appreciate the strides you have made and the aura you have brought to the state judiciary system,” he said.