CSOs, Osun Govt Disagree Over Alleged Plot To Remove Chief Judge

The coalition of Civil Society Oganisations comprising of Transparency and Accountability Group (TAG), Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Dialogue 360, and the Osun Civil Societies Coalition on Wednesday, raised alarm over an alleged plot by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration led by Governor Ademola Adeleke to remove the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo.

Speaking on behalf of the coalition at the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, Osogbo, Comrade Ayo Ologun, warned the executive arm of government not to play politics with the judiciary as it is the last hope of the people.

The group which demanded that the judiciary be allowed to operate without fear of reprisal or political interference, ensuring that justice is served impartially and without bias, also said whatever crisis the judiciary is facing should be allowed to be handled by the National Judicial Council and not with the interference of the legislature and the executive.

The group raised concern over the implications of the action if the CJ is removed, stressing that it will affect the integrity of the judiciary in Osun State.

“By all intent and purpose, Oyebola Adepele-Ojo should continue as the Chief Judge of the State except on two grounds occasioned by death or removal by the National Judicial Council. If she is not late and the judicial Commission has not find her wanton for any act that is unbecoming of someone sitting in that position, why should Osun State government be bent on removing her as the chief judge?

“I can confirm to you that as at yesterday, there is petition against her at the national judicial council NJC. A petition sent by Osun State government. We have written a counter petition as civil society organisations which will be received by the NJC later today. You can’t not play politics with judiciary that is the last hope of the people .

“If you and I have issues, you can use political influence to deal with me but the only hope I know I have is the Judiciary. If the Judiciary is also under the armpit of the executives, then what happens to me as an ordinary citizen. No hope. And that is why we have the rule of separation of power. The Judiciary, the Executive and the Legislature.”

“We hereby call on Governor Ademola Adeleke to respect the independence of the judiciary and immediately cease any attempts to remove the Chief Judge based on her principled stance. The judiciary must be allowed to operate without fear of reprisal or political interference, ensuring that justice is served impartially and without bias.”

However, a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Kolapo Alimi, said the government was unaware of any plot against the state Chief Judge and affirmed government’s commitment to due process and stipulated regulations across the arms of government.

The statement noted that Adeleke and his team are pre-occupied with delivering on good governance to the citizenry with no time for diversionary conducts.

It also added that the governor is not in a position to stop the legislature from doing its statutory job and neither can the Governor hamstring the judiciary in the performance of its duties.

“The State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke and his team are pre-occupied with delivering on good governance to the citizenry with no time for diversionary conducts.

“The government also wishes to state that the constitution and the state laws clearly spells out responsibilities of state officials. The same laws lay out rules for accountability and transparency across government sectors. The Governor and all government officials whether elected or appointed into any arm of government are not immune from the accountability process.

“The Governor is therefore not in a position to stop the legislature from doing her statutory job and neither can the Governor hamstring the judiciary in the performance of its duties.

“The Governor is however committed to supporting all arms of government to operate within the ambit of the law and constitution, the statement added.