OSUN State governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has debunked claims of fighting the suspended state’s Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, over her refusal to release convicted and sentenced murderer, Chief Rahmon Adedoyin.
Speaking through his spokesman, Mallam Olawale Rasheed via a press statement on Sunday, Governor Adeleke alleged blackmail, insisting his family is not friends with Adedoyin.
The governor also denied claims of interference in the case of Adedoyin while it lasted from the beginning to end, and no member of his family was involved in the legal process.
The governor noted that Adedoyin is an All Progressives Congress (APC) loyalist, contrary to claims that he is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), adding that the crisis rocking the state judiciary has to do with the series of petitions from judicial officials on the alleged misconduct of the Chief Judge.
Social media have been awash with allegations suggesting that the governor, his sister, Dupe Adeleke-Sanni, alongside the Commissioner of Justice, Wole Bada are friends of Adedoyin and are persecuting Justice Ojo over the sentence of the murderer.
A number of the publications further alleged that a relative of Adedoyin had been appointed as the acting Chief Judge to aid his release from prison.
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that Chief Adedoyin, the founder and proprietor of Oduduwa University, Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile-Ife and The Polytechnic, Ile-Ife, was on 30 May 2023 found guilty of the murder of a post-graduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Timothy Adegoke and sentenced to death by hanging.
Meanwhile, Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the weekend condemned the reported removal of, Justice Ojo, by the governor. The NBA said in a statement issued on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Akorede Lawal, that it will not recognise Justice Olayinka Afolabi, the acting Chief Judge appointed by the governor.
Lawal said that the NBA’s position was anchored on the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers and the independence of the judiciary. “The tenure of a judicial officer cannot and should not be subject to the mood of politicians,” he added.
The National Publicity Secretary said that the action of the governor has not only negated the principle of separation of powers but was also a clear disregard for a court order.
Lawal said the association unequivocally condemned the “unlawful” actions, adding that the provisions of the 1999 Constitution are not ambiguous as to the way and manner in which a Chief Judge of a state could be removed from office. “The law has since been settled in Nganjiwa v. FRN (2017) LPELR-43391 (CA) that any misconduct attached to the office and functions of a judicial officer must first be reported to and determined by the National Judicial Council (NJC).
“The Supreme Court in Elelu-Habeeb & Anor v AG Federation & Ors (2012) 12 NWLR (Pt 1318) 423 has clearly stated that the Chief Judge of a State cannot be removed under any guise, including the infamous “step aside style,” without recourse to the NJC,” Lawal said. According to him, NBA is troubled that, in going about its actions, the Osun State government chose to ignore the lawful order of interim injunction granted by the National Industrial Court sitting in Ibadan. “The interim injunction restrained the Governor of Osun from interfering with the office of the Chief Judge of Osun State.
“All court decisions must be obeyed and complied with until they are set aside by a superior court of competent jurisdiction,” the NBA spokesman added. Lawal, therefore, said that the NBA would not recognise Justice Afolabi as acting Chief Judge of Osun. The substantive Chief Judge was removed by Gov. Adeleke over allegations of misconduct, abuse of power, corruption, and disregard for the rule of law.
Eighteen-Eleven Media