CJ: Committee Submits Report, House Writes Governor, NJC

The Chairman House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petition and Legal Matters, Hon. Kanmi Ajibola today at the plenary presented the report of his committee that has been investigating the series of petitions written to the house against the CJ.

You will recall that on the 17th of November 2023 at the plenary, the House urged the committee to expedite action on the investigation of the petitions and report to the House within seven days.

While presenting the report on behalf of the committee, Hon. Kanmi Ajibola noted that the affected members and the petitioners are citizens of Osun State who the House is representing and the funds alleged to have been misappropriated and diverted are funds appropriated or to be appropriated by the House, hence the house has the mandate of the oversight function and in exercising the investigative power vested on the Osun State House of Assembly by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as altered), and make appropriate resolutions.

Furthermore, he disclosed that the committee invited the petitioners to substantiate their claim with relevant documents and thereafter base on their testimonies and documents the committee then subpoenaed some of the staff of the Judiciary including the Ag. Chief Regisrar and Director of Finance and Accounting.

Before laying the report before the house, he hinted on their observations as follows:

1. Unjust suspension and victimization of Staff which the panel constituted by the CJ could not indict, they were later exprnerated by the ICPC and even at the court were discharged and acquitted.

2. Unilateral Award of an E-Affidavit Contract to a consultant by the Chief Judge without the approval of the State Government and without a Memorandum of Understanding or the involvement of Osun Internal Revenue Service (OIRS) and government participation.

3. Disobedience of Court Order on Proceeds of Bank Robbery

4. Misappropriation and Diversion of Funds in the Running Cost accout.

5. Embezzlement of Robe Allowances among others.

The House adopted the report of the committee and resolved that the certified true copy of the report including all documents received as evidence, should be made available to the Executive Governor for onward transmission to the National Judicial Council for Further action.

Signed:

Olamide Tiamiyu,
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, OSHA.