Suit On Probe Of Chief Judge Is An Ego Pursuit — Ondo Govt

*Says Governor Never Had The Intention Of Cutting Short The
Tenure Of The Chief Judge

The Ondo State Government on Friday denied embarking on any move
to probe or sack the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Oluwatoyin
Akeredolu, describing the action of the Chief Judge in a suit
instituted by her as a mere ego trip which the state government
refused to participate in it.

The state government who stated this in a statement issued and
signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the
state, Mr Donald Ojogo, said the state did not consider the
exercise as worthy of any legal efforts.

Ojogo disclosed that the state government and the governor, Mr
Rotimi Akeredolu, regarded the suit as an unnecessary distraction
and said no legal representation was made neither on behalf of the
Attorney General nor the Government for the period it lasted.

The statement read: “The attention of the Ondo State Government
has drawn to a news item circulating in the media in respect of the
subject matter referenced above.

“The Ondo State Government from the commencement of the said
suit in question did not consider it worthy of any legal
efforts.

It was vainly an ego pursuit as far as Government was
concerned.

“In unambiguous terms, the suit was an unnecessary distraction
for which no legal representation was made neither on behalf of the
Attorney General nor the Government for the period it sufficed.

“The reasons behind the needless efforts to drag in the
Executive Arm of the State Government, particularly Governor
Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN into the matter are well
noted”

The statement read further that “It must be stated, however,
that, Governor Akeredolu is not only a former President of the
Nigerian Bar Association and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria; he is
indeed a Life Bencher who had served as a member of the National
Judicial Council (NJC).

“He is, therefore, better informed with the procedural processes
relating to the removal of a serving Chief Judge of a State hence
his directive that the State Government should not participate in
the hearing of the needless suit filed by the Chief Judge (CJ).

“Simply put, the Executive Arm of the Ondo State Government led
by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN at no time had interest
whatsoever, in cutting short the tenure of the State CJ.

“If at all, the State Government can only wish the CJ God’s
Infinite Grace till August so as to accord her a deserving
retirement honour as a Jurist.”

It will be recalled that a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja,
last Thursday stopped the state governor from removing the Chief
Judge over a viral video made by a citizen of the state, Olupelumi
Fagboyegun.

The Court ruled that the power to investigate, probe and indict
judicial officers for any official misconduct in the discharge of
duties is constitutionally vested on the National Judicial Council
(NJC) only.

*Says Governor Never Had The Intention Of Cutting Short The
Tenure Of The Chief Judge

The Ondo State Government on Friday denied embarking on any move
to probe or sack the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Oluwatoyin
Akeredolu, describing the action of the Chief Judge in a suit
instituted by her as a mere ego trip which the state government
refused to participate in it.

The state government who stated this in a statement issued and
signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the
state, Mr Donald Ojogo, said the state did not consider the
exercise as worthy of any legal efforts.

Ojogo disclosed that the state government and the governor, Mr
Rotimi Akeredolu, regarded the suit as an unnecessary distraction
and said no legal representation was made neither on behalf of the
Attorney General nor the Government for the period it lasted.

The statement read: “The attention of the Ondo State Government
has drawn to a news item circulating in the media in respect of the
subject matter referenced above.

“The Ondo State Government from the commencement of the said
suit in question did not consider it worthy of any legal
efforts.

It was vainly an ego pursuit as far as Government was
concerned.

“In unambiguous terms, the suit was an unnecessary distraction
for which no legal representation was made neither on behalf of the
Attorney General nor the Government for the period it sufficed.

“The reasons behind the needless efforts to drag in the
Executive Arm of the State Government, particularly Governor
Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN into the matter are well
noted”

The statement read further that “It must be stated, however,
that, Governor Akeredolu is not only a former President of the
Nigerian Bar Association and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria; he is
indeed a Life Bencher who had served as a member of the National
Judicial Council (NJC).

“He is, therefore, better informed with the procedural processes
relating to the removal of a serving Chief Judge of a State hence
his directive that the State Government should not participate in
the hearing of the needless suit filed by the Chief Judge (CJ).

“Simply put, the Executive Arm of the Ondo State Government led
by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN at no time had interest
whatsoever, in cutting short the tenure of the State CJ.

“If at all, the State Government can only wish the CJ God’s
Infinite Grace till August so as to accord her a deserving
retirement honour as a Jurist.”

It will be recalled that a Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja,
last Thursday stopped the state governor from removing the Chief
Judge over a viral video made by a citizen of the state, Olupelumi
Fagboyegun.

The Court ruled that the power to investigate, probe and indict
judicial officers for any official misconduct in the discharge of
duties is constitutionally vested on the National Judicial Council
(NJC) only.