Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed yesterday swore in Justice Ayinla Bamgbola as the Acting Chief Judge.

His predecessor, Justice Raliat Elelu-Habeeb, bowed out of office last Friday, having attained the retirement age.

Ahmed urged the new chief judge to carry the judiciary workers along.

Judicial workers in the state under the aegis of the Judicial Workers Union of Nigeria and the former chief judge had a running battle over alleged non-payment of workers' benefits.

The governor said: "Your appointment is based on our belief and respect for constitutionalism, rule of law and responsiveness to quick dispensation of justice.

"You are charged to maintain the reputation of the judiciary and motivate judicial officers to accord priority to trials that will accelerate the decongestion of prisons. You must carry the judicial officers and other workers along in your operations.