Osun Assembly, Chief Judge Trade Words Over Corruption Allegation
Osun Assembly, Chief Judge Trade Words Over Corruption Allegation
Olamide Tiamiyu, a media aide to the Osun Speaker, Olawale Egbedun, accused the embattled CJ of diverting funds meant for the state judiciary library and robe allowances for staff, totaling N5 million.
Amidst the dispute between the executive and judiciary arms of government in Osun State, the State Assembly and Chief Judge have traded words over corruption allegations against Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo and her suspension.
Tiamiyu claimed that the CJ indiscriminately suspended judicial staff, diverted their salaries, appointed a consultant, and misappropriated proceeds recovered from convicted armed robbers of the Ikirun robbery.
The Osun State House of Assembly is aware of the position of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the decisions of the Supreme Court in various cases stating 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 also noted that the Governor and the House of Assembly cannot remove a Chief Judge without the involvement of the National Judicial Council.
Justice Adepele-Ojo’s counsel, Barrister Olasope, SAN, challenged the Assembly’s authority to recommend her removal, citing Section 292 of the Constitution, which designates the National Judicial Council as the only body responsible for disciplining a Chief Judge.
She also dismissed the allegations leveled against her as baseless and criticized the Assembly’s approach.
Justice Adepele-Ojo questioned the timing of the Assembly’s actions, stating that disciplinary proceedings should precede any suspension.
On the allegations against his client, Olasope said, “they are putting the cart before the house with their approach.
“They have to say something to justify their position and that is what they choose to say. The issue now is that they have come to court and employed the service of a lawyer who has collected service of processes on their behalf this morning in court.
“They employed just one lawyer, Musftau Adetunbi. After you asked the woman to step aside, you are now bringing up charges and allegations. Why not bring the allegations first, try her, if you find her guilty, then send it to the NJC and the NJC will now decide
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