Ondo Govt Sacks 200 Judiciary Workers

No fewer than 200 workers in the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) had been suspended by Ondo State government, saying that their appointment then ‘lacked due process’.

Those affected with the suspension include Judges, Magistrates, Senior

Registrars and Registrars at both High Courts and magistrate courts of

the state.

It was learnt that the affected judiciary staff were said to be those employed by the immediate past administration of Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

In a letter written on behalf of the state government by the JSC

Secretary, Chief Z D Egbunu and addressed to the acting Chief

Registrar of the state High Court, the government noted that the affected staff were employed without due process.

The letter also indicated that the appointment of the affected workers

was irregular, hence the government’s action.

The letter titled “Letter of Suspension” read “due to perceived irregularities and lack of due process in your appointment as a Senior Registrar (functioning as a Staff Attorney) in the Ondo State Judiciary within the Judicial Service of the State the Honourable Acting Chief Judge/Chairman of Judicial Service Commission has directed your immediate suspension from the Judicial Service pending plenary consideration and review of the propriety of your appointment process. Meanwhile, you are to handover any government property in your possession to the Chief Registrar please.”

It was alleged that the state Governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu approved the suspension of the judiciary workers.

Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) was said to have

directed the JSC to investigate the appointment of some judiciary

workers in the state, especially Magistrates and Judges before the action was taken.