By Ken Afor
The National Industrial Court in Ibadan, Oyo State, Thursday issued an injunction preventing Governor Ademola Adeleke from dismissing the Chief Judge of Osun, Justice Adepele Ojo.
An interim order, dated November 16th 2023, pertaining to suit number NICN/IB/61/2023, was filed by the CJ, Justice Adepele Ojo, according to THE WHISTLER. This order was initiated against Governor Adeleke, the Attorney General of Osun State, the Osun State Judicial Service Commission and Accountant General of Osun State.
On November 15th, 2023, Justice Ojo, represented by Oladipo Olasope, SAN, submitted an ex parte motion to request a court order preventing the defendants and anyone related to or acting on their behalf from disturbing, eliminating, overturning, or ending the appointment and terms of employment for the Chief Judge of Osun State.
On Thursday, Justice Dele Peters of the Ibadan division of the National Industrial Court gave an order.
It states, “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 mandating the 4 Defendant (Account General) to continue to pay the salary, entitlements, emoluments and other benefits and moneys the Applicant is entitled to as the Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State pending the determination of the interlocutory application.”
The order noted that “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.
“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 adjourned the case to December 12th 2023 for hearing the pending motion.
Prior to Thursday’s injunction, a Civil Society Organisation in Osun State accused the governor of plotting to remove the Chief Judge after submitting a petition to the National Judicial Council.
According to the group, led by Mr. Ayo Ologun, a resolution from the Osun State House of Assembly was initiated to take the Chief Judge to the National Judicial Council but it was dropped.
Reacting to the claim, Kolapo Alimi, the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, declared that the state government had no knowledge of any scheme against the Chief Judge, backing its dedication to proper procedures and set regulations throughout all branches of government.
Alimi made it clear that Governor Adeleke wouldn’t be involved in anything unlawful, and noted the government had been taken aback by the group’s assertions.
