Controversy in Osun As Governor Adeleke Denies Chief Judge’s Replacement Amid Criticism

The unfolding drama regarding the suspension of Osun State Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, continued on Sunday, with Governor Ademola Adeleke rejecting claims of appointing an acting CJ to replace Justice Ojo.

Justice Adepele Ojo received a request last Thursday from the State House of Assembly to temporarily step aside, facilitating an investigation into petitions lodged against her.

On the same day, spokesperson for the governor, Olawale Rasheed, in a statement sent to journalists in Osogbo, said Adeleke had endorsed the appointment of Justice Olayinka Afolabi as the acting CJ, replacing Justice Ojo.

Rasheed said, “Governor Ademola Adeleke has appointed Justice Olayinka David Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge of Osun state with immediate effect following the approval of the resolution of the House of Assembly.”

In another statement, Rasheed mentioned that the swearing-in ceremony for Afolabi, the next in seniority, would be conducted by Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi on the subsequent day, Friday.

However, the swearing-in did not take place, as the government asserted that it was adhering to the required procedures.

In a surprising turn on Sunday, the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, stated that Governor Adeleke had not assigned anyone the role of acting Chief Judge.

Alimi explained that in his communication to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Adeleke only informed about the ongoing investigation of the Osun Chief Judge and put forth a recommendation to the National Judicial Council for appointing an acting Chief Judge.

He said, “The government of Osun State has denied news reports that Governor Ademola Adeleke has removed the Chief Judge and appointed an acting Chief Judge, clarifying that the governor had only forwarded the resolution of the House of Assembly and recommendation for an acting appointment to the Chief Justice of Nigeria for decision and action.

“With all sense of responsibility, it is important to set the records straight that Governor Adeleke has only duly notified the Chief Justice as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council in writing about the resolutions of the House of Assembly following a series of petitions made against the sitting Chief Judge of Osun State.

“In the communication, Mr. Governor intimated to the CJN of the recommendation of the House that the Chief Judge should step aside and include his submission for an acting appointment to fill the vacuum while the NJC reviews and decides on the petition.

“To that end, the governor, in the same letter, recommended to the CJN, the appointment of the most senior judicial officer, Hon.Justice Olayinka Afolabi, for thorough consideration and further processing by the same NJC through the CJN.”

The commissioner said that Adeleke is dedicated to upholding due process and the rule of law, demonstrating a deep respect for the Bar, the bench, the NJC, and the constitution of the country.

“We assure the public that Mr. Governor is fully aware of the limit of his powers as well as the responsibilities of the various agencies of government and will, therefore, not act in any way to violate the constitution and rule of law,” Alimi said.

Meanwhile, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in Osun and the opposition All Progressives Congress traded words on Sunday over the CJ saga.

The Osun APC, led by Chairman Tajudeen Lawal, criticized Governor Ademola Adeleke, asserting that he lacks information about constitutional provisions regarding the Chief Judge matter.

“When the blind leads the blind, the fall of all of them will be catastrophic which is what is being witnessed in Osun State today.

“The haphazard handling of the CJ’s suspension by the Osun State lawmakers further confirms the allegation by the public that nothing beneficial to the citizenry can evolve from the Assembly, which 16 of its members are alleged to be Yahoo chieftains.

“One is safe to conclude that the House of Assembly under the speakership of Wale Egbedun has an image problem to contend with before the members of the public can take them seriously that they are not the suckers and lapdogs of Governor Adeleke.”

But responding, the Osun PDP, in a statement by its chairman, Sunday Bisi, declared support for the governor and the House of Assembly on the handling of the CJ’s matter, saying Adeleke demonstrated competence and patriotism in his handling of state matters.

“Bisi said, “In the case of issues around the Chief Judge, Governor Adeleke has done the right thing by communicating the development to the National Judicial Council for action. The NJC had received the governor’s letter since last Thursday, putting paid to all ambiguities and misinformation.

“The sign of a good leader is the capacity to set records straight in cases of misinformation. This is what Mr Governor has done. The state PDP reaffirmed its confidence in the leadership style of the state governor and that of the state Assembly, chiding the state APC for lacking a deeper understanding of the dynamics of governance.”

Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke’s spokesperson rejected the assertion that the Chief Judge’s issues originated from her judgment in the murder case of a Master’s student from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Timothy Adegoke, resulting in a death sentence for Hilton Hotels owner, Ramon Adedoyin, in Ile-Ife.

The spokesman said “What is more, throughout the trial, Adedoyin’s legal team was manned by prominent APC lawyers from the beginning to the end. No single PDP lawyer was involved with the Adedoyin team.

“We affirm that the crisis rocking the state judiciary has to do with a series of petitions from judicial officials on alleged misconduct of the Chief Judge. On each occasion, those petitions always ended up unprocessed over deliberate blackmail with the Adedoyin matter until recent action by the state Assembly.

“The governor’s sin is his consistent refusal to accept overtures to protect his kinswoman, the Chief Judge, from probe on alleged corruption. Mr. Governor has always maintained his ground that if as a governor he is not immune from accountability questions, why should he use his office to protect another official because of blood or town kinship?”

However, Oladipo Olasope (SAN), the counsel for the Chief Judge, emphasized in an exclusive interview on Sunday that due process was not adhered to in the alleged removal of the CJ.

Olasope, unaware of any pending petitions against the CJ, mentioned that it would be inappropriate for him to offer comments.

He said, “I wouldn’t know the allegations made against her (Ojo). I am not aware of any allegation against her and if I say I know of any allegation against her, then I am lying.

“I don’t of any allegation against her. All I know is that the governor said he wanted to remove the woman (Ojo) and I don’t know if they did not follow due process.”

Kanyi Daily recalls that Ademola Adeleke had appointed Justice Olayinka Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge of Osun State with immediate effect following a resolution by the House of Assembly.