The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) urged Governor Ademola Adeleke to reinstate suspended chief judge Adepele Ojo in recognition of Thursday’s decision by the National Judicial Council.

On Thursday in Abuja, the NJC rejected Mr Adeleke’s request to remove Mr Ojo from office and appoint the next most senior judge in the state, Justice David Afolabi, in acting capacity.

The Osun governor had suspended Ojo from office, citing a state parliament resolution.

The NJC also rejected the resolution of the Osun House of Assembly.

“The NJC affirms that Justice Ojo is still the recognised Chief Judge of Osun and will not act on the resolution of a House of Assembly. Consequently, Osun should revert to the status quo,’’ the NJC ruled.

NJC’s decisions were reached at its 104th meeting chaired by the Chief Judge of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola.

APM’s chairman in Osun, Wale Adebayo, stated on Friday that the NJC had fulfilled its duties as outlined in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. He commended the NJC verdict, which nullified efforts to remove Justice Ojo from office over alleged misconduct.

“The NJC, being the only constitutional body empowered to investigate judiciary officers and take appropriate actions, has recognised Justice Ojo, disregarding the House of Assembly’s resolution. We as a political party criticised the process that led to the suspension of Justice Ojo and appealed to Gov. Adeleke to return her to office,” Mr Adebayo stated.

The Osun chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) embarked on a peaceful protest on November 20, picketing the office of Mr Ojo.

They demanded reasons for the delay in paying their wardrobe allowances since 2021, despite funding from the state government. They also demanded reasons behind the unlawful suspension of some JUSUN members from office for over 57 months without proper investigation, among other issues.

Chairman of the union, Oluwagbemiga Eludire, had told journalists that the picketing of Mr Ojo’s office had nothing to do with her suspension from office the previous Thursday and the reversal on Sunday.

Mr Ojo’s travails reportedly began after she sentenced a popular hotelier in Ile-Ife, Osun, to death by hanging over the murder of a customer. 

(NAN)