Osun Judiciary: Gov Adeleke Didn’t Act ‘Unjustifiably’…Justice Adepele Ojo May Be Reinstated As CJ If…— Justice Commissioner

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice ,  Osun state, Barrister Wole Jimi-Bada submitted on Thursday night that the steps taken by Governor Ademola Adeleke earlier in the day in respect of who should head the state judiciary was not in any way improper or inappropriate.

He also noted that the governor had only done the needful sequel to the resolution of the state House of Assembly while adding that Justice Adepele Ojo may be reinstated as Chief Judge if her innocence is eventually established.  .  

Recall that the state House of Assembly  had asked the Chief Judge of the state,  Justice Adepele Ojo, to ‘step aside’ whilst carrying out investigation of allegations leveled against her in separate petitions submitted to the parliament which include misconduct, abuse of power, corruption and disregard for rule of law .

Governor Ademola Adeleke had consequently approved the parliament resolution and also  appointed Justice Olayinka David Afolabi as acting Chief Judge.

In a statement issued in Osogbo  which was made available to Team@orientactualmags.com  on Thursday night , the  Justice Commissioner said a strongly worded petition was sent to the State Judicial Service Commission and the State House of Assembly, which had  led to the hearing and eventual resolution of the State House of Assembly  asking the  Chief Judge to step aside.

‘The House of Assembly further launched investigation into the allegation contained in the said petitions and even summoned the Chief Judge to appear before its investigative committee.

As part of its investigation, the House passed a resolution recommending that  the state governor should ask the Chief Judge to step aside and appoint an acting Chief Judge pending the outcome of the investigation by both the House of Assembly and the NJC to which the matter has been referred.

Because the governor believes so much in due process, rule of law and fear of God, he approved the recommendation with a caveat that if the Chief Judge is found to be innocent, she should return to her position’ he said.

The Commissioner added that Governor Adeleke only acted to ensure that there is no vacuum by appointing an acting Chief Judge as a temporary measure.

‘We want to assert that the governor was not the writer of  any of the petitions nor is the governor the retinue of persons who provided multiple evidence in respect of the conduct of the Chief Judge as contained in the petitions. 

By appointing an acting Chief Judge, the governor only acted to ensure there is no vacuum and there is no tampering with potential evidence whilst the investigation is carried out’  Wole Bada, added.

Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo , who was appointed as a Judge of the High Court on December 21, 2000 , became the  Acting Chief Judge of Osun state on March 5, 2013, while the state House of Assembly  ‘sealed’ her appointment in June same year.

  She had succeeded Late Justice Olaniyi Ojo, who had retired from the bench earlier in the year in question-Team@orientactualmags.com
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