Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has made a u-turn on the appointment of Justice Olayinka David Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge of the state to replace the sacked Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Ojo.
Recall that Justice Ojo approached the National Industrial Court, Ibadan division, over the move to remove her.
Following the appeal before the court, the presiding judge, Justice Dele Peters, granted Governor Adeleke and three others a restraining order from removing her.
However, Justice Ojo was suspended, and Adeleke ordered that Justice Yinka Afolabi be sworn into an acting capacity pending the time Osun State House of Assembly will investigate the petition filed against her.
However, the Nigerian Bar Association and stakeholders in the judiciary rejected the decision of the state’s legislature and executive arms on Justice Ojo’s sack and appointment of the acting CJ.
The governor, through the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, in a statement on Sunday, made a U-turn on the appointment of the acting CJ.
Alimi said Adeleke has forwarded the resolution and recommendation of the House of Assembly to the Chief Justice of the Federation for decision and 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.”
