NJC declines Adeleke’s request to remove Osun CJ
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has declined the request for the removal of the Chief Judge of Osun state, Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo, by Governor Ademola Adeleke and the State House of Assembly.
This was contained in a post on the council’s site by the Director of Information of NJC, Soji Oye, on Thursday.
He stated that the council considered and declined the request of the Governor requesting its permission to swear in the next Most Senior Judge in the State in acting capacity, following allegations leveled against Hon. Justice Adepele Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State and the resolution of the State House of Assembly to suspend her.
“The Council affirmed that Hon. Justice Ojo is still the recognized Chief Judge of Osun State, and would not work on the resolution of a State House of Assembly, as it is the only body constitutionally empowered to investigate Judicial Officers and recommend same for any action to the Governor.
“Consequently, Osun State should revert to the status quo.”
Meanwhile, the NJC under the Chairmanship of Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, at its 104th meeting of 6 & 7 December 2023 has recommended the compulsory retirement of Hon. Justice S. O. Falola of Osun State High Court from the Bench.
Oye said that “The recommendation was made sequel to the findings of an Investigation Committee in a petition written against His Lordship by Mr Dapo Kolapo Olowo and Polaris Bank for granting a Garnishee Order Absolute against the Bank for the sum of N283,174,000.00 questionably and strangely, and endorsement of the order, attaching the account of the Garnishee with another garnishee and not the account of the Judgment Debtor who had the legal obligation to pay the supposed judgment sum.
“They found that the subject Judge misconducted himself by entertaining Suit No HIK/41/2018 when there was no evidence of a judgment of the Kwara State High Court before him, neither was there a Certificate of Registration of same in Osun State to confer jurisdiction on him.
“It further found the conduct of the subject Judge traveling to Lagos to visit the Counsel of the Bank in his Chambers on the issue of Garnishee Proceedings, unbecoming of the standard expected of a Judicial Officer.
“Consequently, Council resolved to recommend him to Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State for compulsory retirement with immediate effect.
“Meanwhile, in the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, the National Judicial Council has suspended Hon. Justice S. O. Falola from office pending the approval of the recommendation of his compulsory retirement by the Osun State Governor,” Oye said.
