By Stephen Simon
The Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Kayode Ajulo, SAN, has declared the state government’s zero tolerance for corruption, warning that public resources must not be diverted for private gain.
Ajulo spoke on Monday in Akure, the state capital, at the Post-NBA General Justice Reform 2026, themed, “Raising the Bar.”
He said corruption was not a victimless offence, as it deprived citizens of resources meant for roads, schools, hospitals, security and human development, while weakening public institutions and eroding trust in government.
The commissioner said public office must be regarded as a trust rather than a private opportunity, stressing that government contracts must not be manipulated to favour friends, associates or political allies. He added that no individual, regardless of status or influence, should consider himself above the law.
Ajulo said the state government’s anti-corruption policy was aimed at promoting accountability and transparency, protecting public resources and ensuring that every naira entrusted to government was used for the benefit of the people. He said the government would strengthen due process, contract scrutiny and protection of public assets, while supporting lawful investigations and prosecutions where wrongdoing was established.
Declaring the event open, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Segun Omojuwa, said the administration was committed to strengthening the state’s justice system. He disclosed that the government had increased the number of High Court judges from 24 to 35, employed 44 additional lawyers into the state legal service and approved a review of magistrates’ remuneration.
The governor also cited the establishment of an Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force and amendments passed by the state House of Assembly in May 2026 to the Ondo State Law Commission Law, 2001 and the Ondo State Office of the Public Defender Law, 2024, as measures aimed at strengthening justice institutions and improving access to justice for vulnerable citizens.
Aiyedatiwa said Ondo State was governed by the rule of law and urged law officers to act as custodians of justice and professional advisers to government, advising fearlessly and objectively while defending the legitimate interests of the state in accordance with law and the public interest.
