Lawyer Writes Aregbesola, Demands Details of Funds Released to Osun judiciary

An Osun state based lawyer, Barrister Kanmi Ajibola has demanded from the state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola details of funds released in the last six years by both the Federal and the State Governments to the state judiciary.

Besides, Ajibola who has over six cases already filed against the state government in different courts on several matters asked the governor to grant financial autonomy to the state judiciary before the end of October, saying failure to do this would lead to legal action.

The lawyer in a letter he sent on Thursday, October 13, 2016 to the state governor, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Accountant General of the Federation and the National Judicial Council (NJC) noted that by the provisions of the law, every interested citizen of the state has the right to request from the governor information about funds accruable to the Osun state judiciary from the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) and from Osun State.

Also, by the placement of the constitutional duty, Barrister Ajibola argued that every citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has the right to make positive and useful contribution to the advancement, progress and well being of the community where he resides.

“In the light of the two legal position above referred, I make request for the following full information about all the funds accruable to the Osun State judiciary from both the FGN and the state government from November 2010 to date.

“I also demand full information about the money so far released to the Osun State judiciary from the funds accruable to it from the FGN and the state government from November 2010 with the evidence of payment

According to the lawyer who also copied his letter to the state Speaker of the House of Assembly and the state Chief Judge (CJ) noted that, on a special demand, the state judiciary deserved a financial autonomy, except if the governor deliberately “defunds it to have the dictate of justice in any matter the Osun State Government has interest in”.

Some of the cases Barrister Ajibola had in court against the state governor included the sacking of over 700 LAUTECH Teaching Hospitals workers, the new Tax Law promulgated by the “State of Osun”, and enforcement of the constitutional provisions to make Governor Aregbesola publicly declare the state’s financial status among others.