Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, has modified his stance on the appointment of Justice Olayinka David Afolabi as the state’s acting chief judge, succeeding Justice Adepele Ojo, who was fired.
Justice Ojo was asked to resign by the State House House of Assembly due to allegations of serious misconduct.
The Nigerian Bar Association and other judiciary stakeholders disagreed with the legislature’s and the state’s executive branches’ decisions on Justice Ojo’s dismissal and the selection of Justice Olayinka as the acting Chief Justice, but the governor swiftly announced Justice Olayinka’s appointment.
On Sunday, however, the governor reversed course and appointed the interim CJ through the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi.
He stated that Adeleke sent the House of Assembly’s resolution and recommendation to the Chief Justice of the Federation for consideration and action.
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Following a number of petitions filed against the current Chief Judge of Osun State, Governor Adeleke only duly informed the Chief Justice of the Federation in her capacity as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in writing about the House of Assembly’s resolutions.
“In the correspondence, Mr. Governor informed the CJN of the House’s proposal that the Chief Judge resign, and he also submitted his own application for an interim appointment to cover the vacancy while the NJC considers and rules on the petition.
“Therefore, the Governor suggested in the same letter to the CJN the appointment of Hon. Justice Olayinka David Afolabi, the most senior judicial officer, for careful evaluation and additional processing by the same NJC via the CJN.”
