Gov Adeleke Blocked From Removing Osun Chief Judge

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has been restricted by the National Industrial Court, Ibadan Division, from removing the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Oyebola Ojo.

In a ruling on Thursday, the presiding Judge, Justice Dele Peters, granted the motion exparte filed by Justice Ojo through her counsel, Oladipo Olasope (SAN), on Wednesday.

The court also directed Adeleke to fortify security around Justice Ojo to protect her from all forms of harassment, pending the determination of the suit filed before the court.

Justice Ojo filed the suit with number NICN/IB/61/2023 against Governor Adeleke, the Attorney General of Osun State, the Osun State Judicial Service Commission and the Accountant General of Osun State.

The order reads: “An order of interim injunction is issued restraining the defendants by themselves or their agents or privies howsoever so-called from interfering with removing, reversing or terminating the appointment and conditions of service of the Applicant as the Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State including but not limited to salaries and other pecuniary benefits pending the determination of the interlocutory application.

“An order is here issued mandatory for the 4 Defendant (Account General) to continue to pay the salary, entitlements, emoluments and other benefits and money the Applicant is entitled to as the Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State pending the determination of the interlocutory application.

“Taking cognisance of the gender of the Applicant as a wife, a mother and a grandmother, the first defendant as the Chief Security Officer of Osun State with keys to all security apparatus is ordered and directed to ensure adequate protection to the Applicant from all forms of harassment and from all quarters pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.

“Finally, it is directed that the 2nd Defendant(Attorney General) as the Chief Law Officer of Osun State will appropriately advise the Defendants in general and the 1st Defendant in particular on the imperative of complying fully with the orders of this Court.”

Justice Peters, therefore, adjourned the case to December 12th, 2023, for hearing the pending motion.