Court Grants Perpetual Injunction Restraining Osun Government From Removing Justice Ojo As Chief Judge

The National Industrial Court in Ibadan has ruled in favor of Justice Adepele Ojo, affirming her position as the Chief Judge of Osun State.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Peters on Wednesday in a suit numbered NICN/IB/62/2023, the court granted all reliefs sought by Justice Ojo against the Osun State Government and Osun State House of Assembly, including a perpetual injunction restraining both the executive and legislative branches from removing her as the state’s top judicial officer.
The conflict between Justice Ojo and the Osun State Government began in 2023 when the Osun Assembly motioned to suspend her as Chief Judge and appointed an acting Chief Judge, Justice Olayinka Afolabi. However, Justice Afolabi declined to be sworn in the following day.
Seeking legal recourse, Justice Ojo brought the matter before the National Industrial Court in Ibadan, securing a restraining order against Governor Ademola Adeleke from removing her as the substantive Chief Judge. The court adjourned the case until December 12, 2023, to hear the pending motion on notice.
Despite initial denials from the Osun State Government regarding Justice Ojo’s removal, the state’s spokesperson and Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, stated that Governor Adeleke had forwarded the Assembly’s resolution and acting appointment recommendation to the Chief Justice of the Federation for consideration.
In November 2023, members of the Osun State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union (JUSUN) launched an indefinite protest against Justice Ojo’s continued tenure, citing allegations of mismanagement, improper suspension of workers, and halting statutory training programs. The strike, declared by JUSUN’s state chairman, Gbenga Eludire, paralyzed judicial activities in the state.
The strike was formally called off in March 2024, following the court’s affirmation of Justice Ojo’s position as the Chief Judge of Osun State.
The post Court Grants Perpetual Injunction Restraining Osun Government From Removing Justice Ojo As Chief Judge appeared first on Barristers.NG.

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