After the House of Assembly approved the resolution, Justice Olayinka Afolabi was named the acting chief judge of Osun state by Governor Ademola Adeleke. This appointment took effect immediately.
Olawale Rasheed, the governor’s spokesperson, revealed this in a statement that was acquired in Osogbo on Thursday.
Justice Adepele Ojo, the Chief Judge, is the senior judge before Afolabi.
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Adeleke had previously given her approval to the State Assembly’s motion suggesting Ojo be suspended.
Olawale Rasheed, the governor’s spokeswoman, said in a statement that Ojo’s suspension was authorized by the House during its plenary session.
The governor has instructed the deputy governor to conduct the acting chief judge of Osun State’s swearing-in ceremony, which is scheduled for tomorrow at the Executive Lounge, Governor’s Office, Osogbo, subsequent to the House resolution’s approval,” the statement stated in part.
Press Secretary to the Speaker, Tiamiyu Olamide, provided additional information about the proceedings at the plenary in a statement. She stated that the Assembly decided to invite Ojo to appear before the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Petitions, and Legal Matters in order to look into petitions that were filed against her.
The House was given seven days by the committee to receive its report.
The statement said, “This decision was made during the plenary on Thursday. The House also resolved that the Osun State Chief Judge, Honorable Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, should step aside until the investigation is concluded. This is not to allow for any disciplinary action, but rather to allow for a proper investigation.
“This House decision is in accordance with the investigative powers granted to the House of Assembly by the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution (as amended) provisions.”
In order to avoid creating a vacancy in the position, the Executive Arm was also instructed to promptly swear in the next judge in seniority as the acting Chief Judge of Osun State. Additionally, the Executive was advised to inform the State Judicial Service Commission and the National Judicial Council of the House resolution.
In the meantime, the Osun State Judicial Service Commission, Adeleke, and the state attorney general have all been sued by the suspended chief judge in a National Industrial Court case that was heard in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Earlier on Thursday, the suspended CJ got an interim order prohibiting the governor and other defendants from removing her from office through her attorney, Mr. Oladipo Olasope (SAN).
Justice J.D. Peters, ruling on the motion ex parte marked NICN/IB/6123, made “an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants by themselves or their agents or privies howsoever so-called from interfering with removing, reversing or terminating the appointment and conditions of service of the applicant as the as the Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State including but not limited to salaries and other pecuniary benefits pending the determination of the interlocutory application.”