Osun LG election: APC chieftain urges probe of judge over court order

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate Justice A.A. Aderibigbe of the State High Court for issuing a “contentious order” recognizing vacancies in Local Government councils across the state.

Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, made the call on Monday in Osogbo, questioning the court order, which he argued contradicted the Court of Appeal’s judgment reinstating elected chairmen and councillors previously removed by the Adeleke administration.

Justice Aderibigbe of the State High Court, Ilesa, had on February 21 granted the state government’s request to proceed with the proposed February 22 Local Government election.

The court order also recognized vacancies in all 30 Local Government areas in the state and directed the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to fill them through elections.

However, Oyintiloye described the order as unusual, insisting that it went against a valid judgment of a higher court.

He said, “I appeal to the NJC to investigate Justice Aderibigbe for bringing the judiciary to ridicule with his judgment of February 21, which recognized vacancies in Osun LGAs after the Court of Appeal had reinstated the chairmen and councillors who were unjustly sacked following the October 15, 2022 election.

“Can an order of a State High Court override a judgment of the Court of Appeal? Where and when did Justice Aderibigbe sit to give the order? Why was it the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice who presented the court order to journalists?

“Can a judge deliver a judgment without including affected parties—such as the reinstated APC chairmen and councillors—as parties to the suit? Can a judge rule on a mere Motion on Notice? These are questions the NJC must ask Justice Aderibigbe,” he stated.