NEWS
Adeleke Appoints Replacement After CJ’s Suspension
Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has promptly named Justice Olayinka Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge of the state.
This decision comes in response to the House of Assembly’s resolution, with the suspension of Chief Judge Justice Adepele Ojo being previously sanctioned by Governor Adeleke.
The announcement was made by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, in a statement from Osogbo on Thursday.
Justice Afolabi steps into the position based on seniority within the judiciary hierarchy.
In a statement, Governor Ademola Adeleke’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, conveyed that the House had given its approval for the suspension of Chief Judge Justice Adepele Ojo during its plenary session.
The statement partly reads “Meanwhile, following the approval of the resolution of the House by the governor, the deputy governor has been directed by the governor to perform the swearing-in ceremony of the acting Chief Judge of Osun State which will be held tomorrow at the Executive Lounge, Governor’s Office, Osogbo.”
During the plenary session, the Assembly, as outlined by the Speaker’s Press Secretary, Tiamiyu Olamide, decided to address the petitions against Justice Adepele Ojo by assigning the investigation to the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Petitions, and Legal Matters. The committee will extend an invitation to Ojo for further inquiry.
A deadline of seven days was assigned to the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Petitions, and Legal Matters to present its findings to the Assembly.
The statement read, “This decision was taken during the plenary on Thursday, the House also resolved that pending the outcome of the investigation, the Chief Judge of Osun State Honourable Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo should step aside, not for any disciplinary action, but to allow for proper investigation.
“This House decision is in line with the investigative powers vested on the House of Assembly by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The Executive Arm was also advised to immediately swear in the next judge in order of seniority as the acting Chief Judge of Osun State in order not to create a vacuum in the office while the executive was also advised to notify the National Judicial Council and the State Judicial Service Commission of the resolution of the House.”
The suspended Chief Judge has taken legal action against Governor Adeleke, the state Attorney General, and the Osun State Judicial Service Commission by filing a lawsuit before the National Industrial Court in Ibadan, Oyo State.
On Thursday, the suspended CJ, represented by her lawyer, Mr. Oladipo Olasope (SAN), secured an interim order preventing the governor and other defendants from removing her from office.
Justice J.D. Peters, ruling on the motion ex parte marked NICN/IB/6123, made “an order of interim injunction 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 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.”
Similarly, the judge issued a comparable order in the case of Michael Obidiya, the Secretary to the Osun State Judicial Service Commission, who sued the governor to prevent his intended removal. The hearings for Motions on Notice for both cases have been adjourned until December 12.
The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon Justice Oyewole Adeyeye has passed on.
The news of his passing was leaked by a reliable source under the condition of anonymity.
The sad incident, according to the source, happened in Ado Ekiti in the early hours of Tuesday.
His death is being traced to a sickness which came upon him following the injury he sustained when a section of the Ekiti State High Court Complex, Ado Ekiti wall collapsed in July 12, 2023.
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The late Justice Adeyeye was at the office when the building collapse happened and sustained injuries.
While the state and his family were yet to issue statements on his demise, the Ekiti State Chapter of the Association of International Female Lawyers (FIDA) has sent condolences to the family.
The condolences message read: “With deep sorrow in our hearts and in total submission to the will of God, FIDA Ekiti consoles with the family of the Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Hon Justice Oyewole Adeyeye on his call to glory.
“May He find rest with his maker.
“I pray that God grants the family, the Judiciary and the people of Ekiti State, the grace to bear this irreparable loss.
Adieu great one.”
Justice Adeyeye was born 1960 in Araromi Ugbesi in Ekiti East Local Government of Ekiti State and was called to bar in 1986.
He started his career as a State Counsel in the civil service of the then Ondo State before joining the Ekiti State Judiciary Service Commission shortly after the state was created in 1996.
He was promoted to the position of a judge in the state’s high court in 2002 and has served at different occasions in the election petition tribunal.
A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed all charges against 76 individuals accused of participating in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
The ruling came after the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, moved to discontinue the case under orders from President Bola Tinubu.
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Justice Obiora Egwuatu, presiding over the matter, struck out the charges after hearing a motion from the AGF’s representative, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) Mohammed Abubakar.
Citing Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution, the AGF formally took over the case from the Inspector General of Police, then requested to drop all charges against the defendants, many of whom are minors.
The judge granted the AGF’s application without objection from defense counsel, ordering the immediate release of the accused, who were not present in court.
This decision follows a directive issued on Monday by President Tinubu, instructing the AGF to withdraw charges against the protesters.
More to follow……….
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has raised concerns over alleged monopolistic practices by Dangote Refinery, following a public dispute about fuel pricing in the downstream petroleum sector.
Recall that the refinery, Africa’s largest, recently disclosed its petrol pricing at N990 per litre in trucks and N960 per litre into ships, a move it justifies as being in line with international rates.
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PETROAN, however, sees this as an attempt to suppress competitors and dominate the Nigerian market.
The rift began when Dangote Refinery claimed that complaints from marketers regarding its pricing were fueled by intentions to import cheaper, potentially substandard products.
In response, PETROAN strongly rejected these allegations, suggesting that Dangote’s claims are tactics designed to maintain a monopoly in the sector.
Joseph Obele, PETROAN’s spokesperson, stated that the association remains committed to importing high-quality products at more competitive rates to ensure affordability for Nigerian consumers.
According to PETROAN, competition in the market is essential for achieving fair pricing, and any attempt to stifle it would be detrimental to consumers.
They argue that Dangote Refinery’s pricing should reflect production costs and fair margins rather than international benchmarks, especially given concessions granted by the government for the refinery’s establishment.
PETROAN also announced its plans to partner with foreign refineries and financial backers to import premium-quality petroleum products at prices below current rates.
The association aims to enter the market by December 2024, pending necessary regulatory approvals.
“The allegations that PETROAN will import substandard products are unfounded and aimed at creating an unfair playing field,” the statement read.
PETROAN warned that similar claims in the past had led to significant price hikes when competitors were pushed out, emphasizing that the entry of new players into the market would lead to more competitive pricing and ultimately benefit Nigerian consumers.
PETROAN expressed appreciation for President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to revitalizing Nigeria’s state-owned refineries and urged the government to consider privatizing the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries once rehabilitation is complete.
The association believes a transparent privatization process will help strengthen Nigeria’s downstream sector and counter monopolistic tendencies.
To address the ongoing pricing challenges in the sector, PETROAN called on the government to convene a comprehensive meeting of industry stakeholders, including major associations like IPMAN, DAPPMAN, MEMAN, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN.
PETROAN believes that collaboration among these groups will be instrumental in establishing a sustainable and competitive pricing framework for petroleum products in Nigeria.
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