According to Osun lawmakers, the CJ should step aside to allow for proper investigation of the allegations.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved the suspension of the state Chief Judge (CJ), Adepele Ojo, by the House of Assembly.
State lawmakers on Thursday suspended Ojo over allegations of misconduct.
The governor also announced the appointment of Justice Olayinka Afolabi as the acting chief judge of the state with immediate effect.
This comes in spite of an order by the National Industrial Court (NIC) in Ibadan on Thursday restraining the Osun government from terminating the appointment of Justice Ojo as chief judge.
Justice J. D. Peter of the NIC had also ordered the government to continue to pay the salary entitlements, emoluments and other benefits of the chief judge.
However, the assembly directed Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi to perform the swearing-in ceremony of the acting chief judge on Friday.
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Ojo was asked to step aside pending investigation of allegations of misconduct, abuse of power, corruption and disregard for rule of law against her by the assembly.
A statement by Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson of the governor, said the appointment of Olayinka as acting CJ was sequel to the approval of the resolution of the assembly by the governor.
The lawmakers had resolved at plenary that the next in order of seniority to Ojo be sworn-in immediately to avoid any vacuum in the third arm of government.
According to Osun lawmakers, the CJ should step aside, not for any disciplinary action, but to allow for proper investigation of the allegations.
The assembly resolved that the executive should immediately notify the National Judicial Council and the State Judicial Service Commission of its resolutions.
It directed its committee on Judiciary, Public Petitions and Legal Matters to investigate Ojo by inviting her for questioning within seven days from Thursday.
