Court restrains Adeleke from removing Justice Ojo as Osun CJ

Justice Dele Peters of the National Industrial Court, Ibadan division has restrained Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke from removing the State Chief Judge, Oyebola Ojo.

The order is pursuant to an interim injuction instituted before the court by the Justice Ojo through her counsel Oladipo Olasope, SAN, against Governor Adeleke, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the State, Osun State Judicial Service Commission and the Accountant General of the state.

She urged the court to restrain the defendants or their privies and agents from interfering with, removing, reversing or terminating the condition of service of the claimant as the Chief Judge of Osun state. 

Having listened to the claimant counsel, the court restrained the governor and other defendants either by themselves or their agents or privies howsoever so-called from interfering with, removing, reversing or terminating the appointment and conditions of service of the applicant as the Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State, pending the determination of the interlocutory application.

The order dated November 15, which certified true copy was obtained on Thursday reads further, "An order is here issued mandatory the 4th Defendant to continue to pay the salary, entitlements, emoluments and other benefits and moneys the Applicant is entitled to as the Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State pending the determination of the interlocutory application.

"Taking cognisance of the gender of the applicant as a wife, a mother and a grandmother, the 1st Defendant as the Chief Security Officer of Osun State with keys to all security apparatus is ordered and directed to ensure adequate protection to the applicant from all forms of harassment and from all quarters pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.

"Finally, it is directed that the 2nd Defendant as the Chief Law Officer of Osun State wil appropriately advice the Defendants in general and the 1st Defendant in particular on the imperative of complying fully with the orders of this Court.

"This order together with all other processes in this case shall be served on the Defendants immediately". 

The court then adjourned the matter till December 12, 2023 to hear the pending motion, adding that hearing notice should be served on the defendants as appropriately.