Senator Ademola Adeleke, the state governor of Osun State, has been hauled before the court by Chief Judge Justice Adepele Ojo for alleged attempts to unseat her.
In response to the Chief Judge’s exparte application, Justice J.D. Peters of the National Industrial Court issued a restraining order on Thursday, instructing the governor to halt all efforts to remove the Chief Judge.
Along with the governor, the Osun State Attorney General, the State Judicial Service Commission, and the State Accountant General entered the lawsuit as members of the CJ’s hometown.
The applicant’s appointment as the Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State, as well as the terms of that position, including but not limited to salary and other financial benefits, are protected from interference by the defendants, their agents, or privies, however so-called, according to the judge’s order of interim injunction. This protection is in place while the interlocutory application is being decided.
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The order further stated that “pending the determination of the interlocutory application, the 4th defendant (Accountant General) shall 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.”
Regarding the CJ’s security, the court ruled that “the first defendant (Governor Adeleke), 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,” taking into account the applicant’s gender as a wife, mother, and grandmother.
The case was postponed to December 12, 2023, so that the ongoing motion on notice could be heard. The Judge also instructed the Attorney General to counsel all other defendants “on the importance of complying fully with the directives of this Court.”
