Turks and Caicos Islands to Get New High Court Judge

 Justice Tunde Ademola Bakre

The Turks and Caicos Islands is set to receive a new High Court judge as Justice Tunde Ademola Bakre, a Nigerian-born jurist, prepares to take up his appointment after a consequential two-year tenure on the bench in Antigua and Barbuda.

Bakre, sworn in as a judge of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) in September 2023, quickly became known for rulings that tested the limits of the law, unsettled the state, and underscored the independence of the judiciary.

His first assignment was historic: presiding over Antigua and Barbuda’s inaugural judge-alone murder trial, introduced to ease pandemic-era backlogs. He sentenced 30-year-old Jeffrey Daniel to 20 years for the killing of his girlfriend’s stepfather, marking the court’s first landmark under the new system.

In another closely watched case, however, Bakre struck out the high-profile prosecution of suspended police superintendent Ray John, accused of forging passport bio-pages. He ruled the court lacked jurisdiction without a jury, exposing a critical oversight by prosecutors and sparking widespread debate on the limitations of judge-alone trials.

Justice Bakre also made headlines with his strong stance against abuses of process. He ordered the release of Jamaican national Methoni Vernon, accused of murder, after finding that authorities had bypassed formal extradition procedures to bring him to Antigua. The ruling was hailed as a victory for the rule of law and a rebuke to state overreach.

Known for balancing firmness with fairness, Bakre reduced a murder charge to manslaughter in the case of Brittany Jno Bapsite, who killed a woman during a psychiatric crisis. While acknowledging diminished responsibility, he nevertheless imposed a 27-year sentence, now under appeal, reflecting his view that mental health considerations must be weighed carefully against public safety.

Not all his judgments leaned toward severity. In a review of the infamous “Computer Challenger Murders,” he granted unconditional release to convict Mellanson Harris, citing decades already served and exemplary conduct in prison.

Colleagues praised Bakre’s courtroom demeanor as steady, courteous, and incisive. Attorney Andrew O’kola said the judge “exercised a measure of inherent jurisdiction to prevent abuse by the State,” while attorney Wendel Alexander described him as “a remarkable gentleman” with both wit and gravitas.

Even beyond the courtroom, Bakre earned admiration. At his informal send-off, cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards called him a “brother,” celebrating his warmth and camaraderie.

As he departs Antigua and Barbuda, Justice Bakre leaves behind a legacy of rulings that highlighted accountability, fairness, and judicial independence. His arrival in the Turks and Caicos Islands will mark a new chapter for the territory’s justice system.