Despite Court Order, Adeleke Removes Osun Chief Judge, Names Replacement

,,,,Despite court order against the removal of the Osun State Chief Judge, Governor Ademola Adeleke has removed the State Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo and ordered her replacement on allegations of misconduct, abuse of power, corruption and disregard for rule of law.

This followed the resolution of the State House of Assembly asking Justice Adepele Ojo to step aside pending conclusion of investigation of allegations against her.

The Osun Assembly on Thursday during its sitting had resolved that the Executive should be informed of the House resolution and that the next in order of seniority to Justice Adepele Ojo be sworn-in immediately to avoid any vacuum in the third arm of government in Osun State.

,,,,The House had earlier resolved as follows:
“Having received various petitions against the Chief Judge of Osun State bothering on gross misconducts, abuse of office, corruption and lack of respect for due process and rule of law, this Honourable House, in performance of its oversight functions and exercise of its investigative powers vested by the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) hereby resolved as follows:

That the Committee on Judiciary, Public Petitions and Legal Matters investigate the petitions against the Chief Judge of Osun State, Honourable Justice Adepele Ojo, by inviting the Chief Judge and report to the House within 7 days from today.

That pending the outcome of the investigation, the Chief Judge of Osun State, Honourable Justice Adepele Ojo should step aside, not for any disciplinary action, but to allow for proper investigation of the allegations.
That while she steps aside pending the investigation, the Executive Governor should immediately swear-in the next judge in order of Seniority as the Acting Chief Judge of Osun State.

The Executive should immediately notify the National Judicial Council and the State Judicial Service Commission of the resolutions of this House immediately for their awareness.
That the Clerk of this House should forward the resolutions of this House to the Executive, the National Judicial Council and the State Judicial Service Commission.

,,, Meanwhile, following the approval of the resolution of the House by the Governor, the Deputy-Governor has been directed by the Governor to perform the swearing-in ceremony of the Acting Chief Judge of Osun State which will be held tomorrow at the Executive Lounge, Governor’s Office, Osogbo

THE COURT ORDER

Tthe National Industrial Court, Ibadan division presided over by Justice Dele Peters on Thursday, November 16, restrained Governor Ademola Adeleke from removing the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Ojo.

The court also directed Adeleke to fortify security around Justice Ojo to protect her from all forms of harassment, pending the determination of the suit filed before the court.

In an interim order obtained by The Nation dated November 16th, 2023, the presiding Judge of National Industrial Court, Justice Dele Peters granted the motion experte filed by Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Ojo through her counsel, Oladipo Olasope, SAN.

The suit with number NICN/IB/61/2023 filed by the CJ, Justice Adepele Ojo against Governor Adeleke, Attorney General of Osun State, Osun State Judicial Service Commission and Accountant General of Osun State retrained the four defendants following the motion exparte filed on 15th November 2023.

The order read: “An order of interim injunction is issued restraining the defendants by themselves or their agents or privies howsoever so-called from interfering with removing, reversing or terminating the appointment and conditions of service of the Applicant as the Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State including but not limited to salaries and other pecuniary benefits pending the determination of the interlocutory application.

“An order is here issued mandatory for the 4 Defendant (Account General) to continue to pay the salary, entitlements, emoluments and other benefits and money the Applicant is entitled to as the Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State pending the determination of the interlocutory application.”

“Taking cognisance of the gender of the Applicant as a wife, a mother and a grandmother, the first defendant as the Chief Security Officer of Osun State with keys to all security apparatus is ordered and directed to ensure adequate protection to the Applicant from all forms of harassment and from all quarters pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.”

It was added: “Finally, it is directed that the 2nd Defendant(Attorney General) as the Chief Law Officer of Osun State will appropriately advise the Defendants in general and the 1st Defendant in particular on the imperative of complying fully with the orders of this Court.”

, ,…Justice Peters hereby adjourned the case to December 12th, 2023 for hearing the pending motion.