Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has swiftly appointed Justice Olayinka Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge of Osun state following the suspension of Chief Judge Justice Adepele Ojo. The decision was made in alignment with the resolution of the House of Assembly.
The spokesperson for the governor, Olawale Rasheed, confirmed the appointment in a statement obtained in Osogbo on Thursday. Afolabi, who is next in line in seniority to Justice Adepele Ojo, assumes the role of acting Chief Judge with immediate effect.
Earlier, Governor Adeleke had approved the resolution of the State Assembly, which recommended the suspension of Justice Ojo. The House, during its plenary, had approved Ojo’s suspension, prompting the governor to direct the deputy governor to conduct the swearing-in ceremony of the acting Chief Judge.
In further details provided by the Press Secretary to the Speaker, Tiamiyu Olamide, the Assembly resolved to investigate petitions against Ojo by inviting her. The House Committee on Judiciary, Public Petitions, and Legal Matters was tasked with conducting the investigation and reporting its findings within seven days.
The statement read, “This decision was taken during the plenary on Thursday; the House also resolved that pending the outcome of the investigation, the Chief Judge of Osun State Honourable Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo should step aside, not for any disciplinary action but to allow for proper investigation.”
The suspended Chief Judge, Justice Ojo, has taken legal action against Governor Adeleke, the state Attorney General, and the Osun State Judicial Service Commission before the National Industrial Court in Ibadan, Oyo State. An interim order was obtained, restraining the defendants from interfering with her position pending the determination of the interlocutory application. The case has been adjourned till December 12 for the hearing of Motions on Notice.
Additionally, a similar order was made for the Secretary to the Osun State Judicial Service Commission, Michael Obidiya, who also sued the governor to prevent his planned removal. Both cases will be heard on December 12.