The Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, has defended the suspension of the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo.
Since the suspension of the Osun Chief Judge, there has been widespread criticism from the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), civil society organizations, and other prominent personalities.
Notably, the Assembly directed Governor Ademola Adeleke to swear in Justice David Olayinka Afolabi as the Acting Chief Judge.
Several civil society organizations have condemned this action and called for the immediate revocation of the suspension by the Osun State House of Assembly.
The NBA has also stated its refusal to recognize Justice David Olayinka Afolabi as Acting Chief Judge, particularly as he did not attend his swearing-in on the specified date.
In a statement released by the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Olamide Tiamiyu, on Monday, Egbedun clarified that the Osun State House of Assembly had no intention of overstepping its boundaries by encroaching on the constitutional duties of the National Judicial Council (NJC).
He emphasized that the Assembly was merely fulfilling its constitutional duty to expose corruption, as stipulated in Section 128 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
According to Egbedun, the House had received several petitions alleging corruption against the Chief Judge, and thus, it would have been negligent and in breach of its constitutional responsibilities if it had ignored these petitions.
For the benefit of the public, some of the allegations against the Chief Judge include the diversion of funds for the State Judiciary Library, the improper use of a brother judge’s robe allowance, indiscriminate suspension of judicial staff, and diversion of their salaries. Additionally, allegations include the diversion of revenue due to the government from filing electronic affidavits through the sole appointment of a consultant by the Chief Judge, and disobedience of a court judgment that discharged and acquitted a judicial staff of embezzlement. Furthermore, there are allegations of the diversion of proceeds recovered from convicted armed robbers.
Egbedun reiterated that the Assembly was cognizant of the position of the 1999 Constitution and the decisions of the Supreme Court in various cases, emphasizing that the Governor of a State and the House of Assembly cannot remove a Chief Judge from office without the participation of the National Judicial Council.
He urged commentators to be cautious in their remarks, as misconceptions could be conveyed regarding the Osun State House of Assembly’s actions. He also clarified that the Assembly had not been named as a defendant in the lawsuit filed by the Chief Judge of Osun State at the National Industrial Court, Ibadan, nor had it been served with any injunction related to this lawsuit.
Concluding the statement, Egbedun emphasized that the Osun State House of Assembly would not be deterred or influenced by misguided interpretations of its actions, reiterating its commitment to upholding the Constitution and not abusing its constitutional powers. He affirmed that the House of Assembly stood firm in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities and would not succumb to any form of intimidation.
