The Executive Governor of Osun State, Governor Ademola Adeleke, on Thursday approved the resolution of the Osun State House of Assembly asking the Osun State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo, to step aside pending investigation of allegations of misconduct, abuse of power, corruption and disregard for rule of law against her by the House of Assembly.
This decision is in spite of the order of the National Industrial Court which on Thursday restrained the governor from removing the duo of the judge and his secretary.
The chief judge and secretary, Michael Obidiya, had prayed the National Industrial Court in separate suits filed on their behalf by counsel, Oladipo Olasope, challenging Adeleke’s decision to remove them.
In the resolution of the Osun Assembly sitting earlier on Thursday, the House 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 inthe 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.
Adepele Ojo, Osun CJ
- 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 had been directed by the governor to perform the swearing-in ceremony of the Acting Chief Judge of Osun State which would be held tomorrow at the Executive Lounge, Governor’s Office, Osogbo.
