Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has changed his decision regarding the appointment of Justice Olayinka David Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge of the state.
The appointment was meant to replace the previous Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Ojo, who was dismissed from the position. Justice Ojo took the matter to the National Industrial Court in Ibadan, contesting her removal.
In response to her appeal, the presiding judge, Justice Dele Peters, issued a restraining order preventing Governor Adeleke and three others from removing her.
Justice Ojo was suspended and Justice Yinka Afolabi was appointed as the acting Chief Justice of Osun State. However, the Nigerian Bar Association and judiciary stakeholders disagreed with this decision.
The governor, through the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, released a statement on Sunday stating that the appointment of the acting Chief Justice has been reconsidered.
Adeleke has now sent the resolution and recommendation of the House of Assembly to the Chief Justice of the Federation for further action.
The statement reads, “Governor Adeleke has only duly notified the Chief Justice of the Federation 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 to the CJN of the recommendation of the House that the Chief Judge should step aside and include 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.”
