By Ken Afor
Judiciary workers in Osun State, Wednesday, embarked on an industrial strike action to make known their disapproval with regards to the displacement and purported abuse of the State Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Ojo.
On Wednesday, policemen manned the entrance to the High Court in Oke-Fia area of the state capital fired teargas at the protesting workers and journalists, leading to the strike.
Gbenga Eludire, the Chair of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Osun Chapter, declared that, since the government has declared war on workers, they must withdraw their service from their respective stations.
“Following the action of the police, I, Comrade Gbenga Eludire, hereby order that workers in the sector should withdraw their services till further notice”, he said.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has also voiced their disapproval of the suspension of Ojo by the state government, as well as the appointment of Olayinka Afolabi as his replacement.
The lawyers collectively declared that the government’s decision concerning Afolabi becoming the Chief Justice of Osun State would not be accepted, and committed to making sure that it could not take effect.
TheNewDiplomat had earlier reported that the Osun State House of Assembly, on Thursday during its plenary session, gave the instruction for Justice Ojo, who has been suspended, to step aside pending the results of the enquiry being conducted against her.
On Friday, Governor Adeleke appointed Justice Olayinka Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge, having approved the resolution of the assembly.
The National Industrial Court which was sitting in Ibadan earlier issued an order prohibiting the governor from removing the Chief Justice, however, this order was disregarded.
In response to the suspension of the former Chief Justice, the Nigerian Lawyers Association declared Ojo’s dismissal to be illegitimate and an infringement on the principle of the judiciary.
