Cestos City, Rivercess County – The Resident Judge of the 14th Judicial Circuit Court, Onesimus D. Banwon, has emphasized the vital role of courts in safeguarding justice, describing them as humanity’s last refuge for peaceful redress of grievances.
Speaking at the opening of the February Term of Court, Judge Banwon reminded citizens that when negotiations fail, politics disappoint, and power intimidates, the court remains the institution where the wronged can stand and demand justice.
“Grievance is not a creation of law; it is a condition of human existence. Wherever humans share land, resources, authority, and ambition, conflict inevitably arises,” the judge said. He noted that societies without lawful mechanisms to resolve disputes often descend into vengeance and chaos, while civilization advanced when humanity replaced force with reason, and violence with law.
Judge Banwon further highlighted that courts are moral firewalls that preserve social order, cautioning that delayed justice risks extinguishing hope.
Responding to the judge’s remarks, County Attorney Martin Tumoe pledged the Ministry of Justice and the Joint Security’s unwavering commitment to uphold the rule of law.
He warned against the compromising of criminal and felony cases before they reach the court, calling it a serious threat to public security and justice. “If we have sufficient evidence against anyone interfering with justice, we will prosecute,” he said, assuring citizens that his office would continue to protect the interests of the people despite challenges.
For his part, Defense Counsel James Kaba, stressed the need for honesty, fairness, and conscience in court proceedings.
He said judges, lawyers, clerks, sheriffs, and jurors must act without sentiment, ensuring that defendants are fairly represented and that only those proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt are convicted. “When there is doubt, the law says the person must be acquitted. It is better for a guilty person to go free than for an innocent person to be wrongly jailed,” Cllr. Kaba said.
The opening of the February Term of Court in Rivercess County underscores renewed calls for transparency, accountability, and respect for the judicial process as citizens look to courts as pillars of justice in society.
