Osun CSOs Warn Adeleke Against Plot To Remove CJ

-We’re Unaware Of Any Plot Against The CJ, Govt

The Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations in Osun state has called on Governor Ademola Adeleke to respect the independence of the judiciary and immediately cease any attempts to remove the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Adebola Adepele Ojo.

The group said the judiciary must be allowed to operate without fear of reprisal or political interference, ensuring that justice is served impartially and without bias.

At a press conference jointly addressed by Ayodeji Ologun, Osun Masterminds, Emmanuel Olowu, Committee for Defense of Human Rights (CDHR), Ismaheel Adedokun, Dialogue 360 and Wole Folaranmi, Vice Chairman, OSCSC, the groups warned against impending consequence should the government go ahead to remove the State CJ Ojo

The groups said they’re committed to upholding the principles of justice, transparency, and the rule of law.

They called on relevant stakeholders, including the National Judicial Council, legal associations to closely monitor the situation in Osun State and speak out against any actions that threaten the independence Judicial of the judiciary.

“This move is particularly troubling as it appears to be a reprisal against the Chief Judge for her principled stand against attempts to manipulate the judiciary in the state.

He said, “The coalition of civil society groups committed to upholding the principles of justice, transparency, and the rule of law, strongly condemns the recent attempt by the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to illegally remove the Chief Judge of Osun State, Honorable Justice Adebola Adepele Ojo. This move is particularly troubling as it appears to be a reprisal against the Chief Judge for her principled stand against attempts to manipulate the judiciary in the state.

“The Chief Judge, in her capacity, has a constitutional duty to uphold justice and ensure the fair and impartial administration of the law. Her commitment to these principles should be celebrated, not met with attempts at removal for political reasons.

“As Civil Society Organizations, we are deeply concerned about the implications of this action on the integrity of the judiciary in Osun State. The judiciary plays a crucial role in maintaining the checks and balances essential to a well-functioning democracy. Any interference in its operations erodes public trust and undermines the constitutional framework that guarantees the separation of powers.

“Furthermore, we urge relevant stakeholders, including the National Judicial Council, legal associations and the general public, to closely monitor the situation in Osun State and speak out against any actions that threaten the independence Judicial of the judiciary.

“Justice of the state to aver their minds to the consequence that greeted such removal in Ekiti in the days of Ayodele Fayose as governor and know that they stand the risk of losing in their heads and their carrier officers and those that seek to gain from the unjust and unconstitutional in seeking to benefit from what is unjudicial in practice and unknown to the law and the principle of separation of power. removal of the Chief.

“We sternly also warn the Osun State House of Assembly not to allow herself to be used as an instrument in illegality. The Assembly should know that nowhere in the world does the legislature have power to suspend nor remove a judicial officer like a chief justice of the state, only the National Judicial Council has such power and in this case, we have taken the matter to them for proper investigation of the issues that might have been raised.

“The Executive arm of Government in the state and the Legislature should be guided by Chapter 7, section 292 of the Nigerian Constitution which is the grand nom

As stakeholder in the Osun project, we remain committed to defending the rule of law, protecting the independence of the judiciary, and promoting accountability in governance”

Similarly ,the groups condemned the appointment of Hashim Abloye, as the Chairman of the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), saying it was disgusting to appoint a Card-carrying member of PDP to occupy such an independent office.

Reacting, the state government declared that it was unaware of any plot against the state Chief Judge, even as it affirms its commitment to due process and stipulated regulations across the arms of government.

The commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, in a statements said: “The State Governor , Senator Ademola Adeleke and his team are preoccupied with delivering on good governance to the citizenry with no time for diversionary conducts.

“The Governor is therefore not in a position to stop the legislature from doing her statutory job and neither can the Governor hamstring the judiciary in the performance of its duties.”