Governor Adeleke had sought the NJC’s permission to swear in the next most senior judge in the state as the Acting Chief Judge of the state, after purportedly suspending Mrs Ojo from office in November.
The National Judicial Council (NJC) has rejected Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke’s nominee for replacement of the state’s Chief Judge.
The NJC rather insisted that Adepele Ojo, who was purportedly suspended from office by the governor, remained the Chief Judge of the state, a decision the council took as part of its resolutions during its two-day meeting which ended on Thursday.
The Director of Information of the NJC, Soji Oye, announced the resolutions of the council in a statement on Thursday.
Governor Adeleke had sought the NJC’s permission to swear in the next most senior judge in the state as the Acting Chief Judge of the state, after purportedly suspending Mrs Ojo from office in November.
But in its stance on the issue on Thursday, the NJC said that during its meeting, it “considered and declined the request of Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State requesting its permission to swear in the next most senior judge in the state in an acting capacity, following allegations levelled against Hon. Justice Adepele Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State and the resolution of the State House of Assembly to suspend her.”
“The council affirmed that Hon. Justice Ojo is still the recognised Chief Judge of Osun State, and would not work on the resolution of a State House of Assembly,” the statement by the NJC said.
Governor Adeleke had, on 16 November, suspended Mrs Ojo as the Chief Judge over allegations of misconduct, abuse of power, corruption and disregard for the rule of law levelled against her by the House of Assembly.
Announcing her suspension in a statement, the governor’s spokesperson, Rasheed Olawale, said Governor Adeleke approved the resolution of the state House of Assembly passed on the same day.