We’ve Not Appointed Any New Chief Judge, Osun Govt Clarifies

By Eric Elezuo

Following reports making the rounds that the Ademola Adeleke-led government of Osun State, has disengaged the services of its Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, and replaced her with Justice Olayinka David Afolabi, the state government has stated categorically that no such thing happened.

In the statement signed by the Hon Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, and made available to The Boss, the government insisted that Governor only submitted a resolution of the state House of Assembly recommending an acting appointment to the Chief Justice of the Federation for decision and action.

“With all sense of responsibility, it is important to set the records straight that Governor Adeleke has only duly notified the Chief Justice as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in writing about the resolutions of the House of Assembly following a series of petitions made against the sitting Chief Judge of Osun State,” the statement noted.

The statement further recognised Gov Adeleke as a man of immense constitutional background, who is at home with due process, and would never do anything contrary to the law of the land.

“Governor Adeleke is a man of due process and rule of law with a deep level of respect for the bar and the bench, the NJC and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“We assure the public that Mr Governor is fully aware of the limit of his powers as well as the responsibilities of the various agencies of government and will therefore not act in any way to violate the constitution and rule of law,” the statement further assured.

Adeleke has in few months of stewardship as governor changed the landscape of governance in the state, bringing government to a roughing distance of those at the grassroots.

Read the statement in full:

Governor Adeleke Writes CJN/NJC, Says No Official is yet Appointed Acting Chief Judge

The government of Osun state has denied news reports that Governor Ademola Adeleke has removed the lChief Judge and appointed an acting Chief Judge, clarifying that the Governor had only forwarded the resolution of the House of Assembly and recommendation for an acting appointment to the Chief Justice of the Federation for decision and action.

With all sense of responsibility, it is important to set the records straight that Governor Adeleke has only duly notified the Chief Justice as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in writing about the resolutions of the House of Assembly following a series of petitions made against the sitting Chief Judge of Osun State.

In the communication, Mr Governor intimated the CJN of the recommendation of the House that the Chief Judge should step aside and included his own submission for an acting appointment to fill the vacuum while the NJC reviews and decides on the petition.

To that end, the Governor in the same letter recommended to the CJN, the appointment of the most senior judicial officer, Hon. Justice Olayinka David Afolabi for thorough consideration and further processing by the same NJC through the CJN

We urge the public to note that while the House of Assembly recommended the appointment of a replacement to the Governor in its resolution, the Governor however, toed the line of law by writing the CJN on the entire development and submitting all materials for NJC as mandated national agency.

We therefore, wish to state categorically that Governor Adeleke has not appointed any judicial official as Acting Chief Judge and nobody has been sworn as Acting Chief Judge of Osun state.

Governor Adeleke is a man of due process and rule of law with a deep level of respect for the bar and the bench, the NJC and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

We assure the public that Mr Governor is fully aware of the limit of his powers as well as the responsibilities of the various agencies of government and will therefore not act in any way to violate the constitution and rule of law.