Osun State House of Assembly defends its Suspension of the State Chief Judge

Osun State House of Assembly has defended its suspension of the State Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Ojo.

The speaker, Adewale Egbedun in a statement on Monday, says the assembly has no intention of encroaching on the constitutional duties of the National Judicial Council.

He, however, said the assembly acted in line with its constitutional responsivities of exposing corruption, following several petitions it received on alleged official corruption against the chief judge.

He listed the allegation against the chief judge as including her diversion of the fund voted for the state judiciary library project, and N5 million robe allowance of a judge.

The chief judge was also accused of diversion of the proceeds that was recovered from the convicted armed robbers of the Ikirun robbery.

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While maintaining that the Assembly was aware of the position of the 1999 Constitution and the decisions of the Supreme Court in various cases, Egbedun stated that the Governor of a State and the House of Assembly cannot remove a Chief Judge from office without the participation of the National Judicial Council.

Therefore, we urge commentators to be cautious in their utterances, as they may convey the misconception that the Osun State House of Assembly has removed or intends to remove the Chief Judge of Osun State without the involvement of the National Judicial Council.

It is pertinent to also clarify that the Osun State House of Assembly was not named as a defendant in the lawsuit filed by the Chief Judge of Osun State at the National Industrial Court, Ibadan.

Moreover, the Osun State House of Assembly has not been served with any injunction related to this lawsuit, so it is false for anyone to insinuate that the House of Assembly acted in contravention of an order of a Court of competent jurisdiction.

He added that the Osun State House of Assembly will not be deterred or influenced by misguided interpretations of its actions.

It is important to note that the House is committed to upholding the Constitution and will not abuse its constitutional powers to achieve unconstitutional objectives.

The Osun State House of Assembly stands firm in carrying out its constitutional responsibilities and will not succumb to any form of intimidation.