Court bars Governor Adeleke from removing Osun State Chief Judge

The National Industrial Court of Nigeria, sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, has barred Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke from removing State Chief Judge Adepele Ojo and Michael Obidiya, the secretary of the state Judicial Service Commission.

The court issued the orders in response to two separate lawsuits filed by Ojo and Obidiya through their attorney, Oladipo Olasope.

Ojo had dragged Adeleke to court and included the Osun State Attorney General, Osun State Judicial Service Commission, and the State Accountant General as defendants.

The claimant, in an ex-parte motion dated November 15, 2023, requested an interim injunction from the court to prevent the defendants from removing, reversing, or terminating her appointment and conditions of service as the Chief Judge of Osun State, “including but not limited to salaries and other pecuniary benefits, pending the determination of the interlocutory application.”

Ojo also sought an order compelling the fourth defendant to continue paying her salary, entitlements, emoluments, remuneration, and other benefits as the Chief Judge of Osun State until the interlocutory application is decided.

After hearing Olasope, the claimant’s counsel, D. Peters, subsequently ruled, “An order of interim injunction is issued 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 Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State including but not limited to salaries and other pecuniary benefits pending the determination of the interlocutory application.

“An order is here issued mandatory for the 4th Defendant to continue to pay the salary, entitlements, emoluments and other benefits and money the Applicant is entitled to the Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State pending the determination of the interlocutory application.”