The embattled Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo allegedly politicised the state judiciary for pecuniary gains.
This is the position of a civil society organisation, the Movement for Social Justice and Transparency, Osun State Chapter.
Its State Coordinator, Comrade Adeyinka Ayoola in a statement on Tuesday, said the group said the judiciary has remained political under the leadership of Justice Adepele-Ojo.
Backing the decision of the state government on the suspension of the Chief Judge, the group said the suspension of Justice Adepele-Ojo was a good move in order to prevent the State judiciary from being destroyed beyond redemption.
According to MSJT: “We found out that the Osun State Judiciary under Ojo has been a pawn in the hand of politicians in the State, particularly, the immediate past Governor of the State and current Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Alhaji Gbeyega Oyetola.
“There are allegations of the unholy and illegal frolick between Mr. Oyetola and Justice Ojo which have put the respected third arm of government into jeopardy under the watch of Justice Adepele-Ojo.
“Our findings indicates that Justice Ojo has been listening to the dictates of Mr. Oyetola till the present moment and they have concluded plans to frustrate all the cases involving the camp of former Governor of the State and immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the Courts of competent jurisdiction in the State.
“The conversation between Justice Adepele-Ojo and Oyetola have been in public domain where it was shown very clearly how her and Mr. Oyetola were plotting to manipulate the wheel of justice in the State judiciary by instructing particular Judges to adjudicate unfairly, illegally, and with malicious bias over certain political and Chieftaincy matters, particularly any case filed by Ogbeni Aregbesola or any member of his Omoluabi Caucus against Oyetola or his group.
“To achieve this Justice Adepele-Ojo has been transferring any erring Judge who refused to do her bidding, and replacing such with judges that they could control and manipulate to do her bidding.
“On the above mentioned allegation few of the phone chats of Justice Adepele-Ojo and that of Mr. Oyetola to prove this position beyond reasonable doubt is: Olubunmi Odetayo V. Gboyega Famodun& Ors in Suit Number: HIK/58/2021 filed by Aregbesola’s group in 2021 which was dismissed in a controversial manner without any tangible reason by Justice Sikiru Oke.
“We further found out that Justice Oke was a Judge planted by Justice Adepele-Ojo when she suddenly transferred away Justice Jide Falola who was sitting over the matter before then, and who had refused to be manipulated. But Justice Oke, who once Legal Consultant to Mr. Oyetola promptly and unjustifiably dismissed the case without hearing any of the parties.
“Also the recent case between Tutu Olanrewaju V. Tajudeen Lawal in suit number :HOS/M.508/2023, which was another case instituted by Aregbesola’s faction of the APC in the State, he said there were violent attacks against the litigants and even Court Officials by thugs belonging to Oyetola’s faction of APC with the knowledge of Justice Ojo who has refused to bring to book the persons who attacked her own court officials.”
However, the group urged the State Government under Governor Adeleke to allow rule of law prevail and exercise caution by ensuring that only the relevant bodies deal with the issue as spelt out in the rule of separation of power.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
