The Osun State Judiciary workers have declared industrial action in the state effective immediately.
The Chairman, Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Osun Chapter, Gbenga Eludire, asserted this on Wednesday, noting that since the Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Ojo, has declared war against the workers, they should withdraw their service from their respective stations.
This followed the firing of tear gas at the protesting workers and journalists by police stationed at the High Court entrance located at Oke-Fia area of the state capital on Wednesday.
“Following the action of the police and the attitude of the Chief Judge, I, Comrade Gbenga Eludire, hereby ordered that workers in the sector should withdraw their service till further notice,” he said.
The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, had last week restrained the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, from removing the State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo and Michael Obidiya, as the secretary of the state Judicial Service Commission.
The court gave the orders following two separate suits filed by Ojo and Obidiya through their counsel, Oladipo Olasope.
However, Adeleke defied the order by the court restraining him and suspended the Osun State Chief Judge, Oyebola Ojo.
The governor had earlier approved the resolution of the State Assembly that recommended the suspension of Ojo.
Despite the court order, the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed in a statement issued in Osogbo on Thursday last week diclosed that the Governor had approved the appointment of Justice Olayinka David Afolabi, as the Acting Chief Judge of the state with immediate effect.
Rasheed said, “Governor Ademola Adeleke has appointed Justice Olayinka David Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge of Osun state with immediate effect following the approval of the resolution of the House of Assembly.”
The NJC, in response, slammed Adeleke and the state assembly for removing the CJ,Justice Oyebola Ojo, noting that they lack the power to suspend or discipline any judge.
A member of the council, who craved anonymity because he was not in a position to speak on the matter, disclosed that the NJC was the only body that could investigate and recommend sanctions for judges.
Amidst the controversy, the governor backtracked by denying that he appointed an acting CJ to replace Justice Ojo.
He explained that he only forwarded the resolution of the House of Assembly asking the Chief Judge to ‘step aside’ pending the investigation of the allegation of corruption against her.
