The Osun State Chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union (JSU) has thrown its hat into the ring in the ongoing theatricals involving the state’s judiciary, the legislature and the executive.

The world woke up to the JSU demonstrating in support of embattled Chief Justice (CJ) of Osun State, Hon Justice Adepele Ojo, allegedly suspended, sacked or replaced by an acting CJ in the person of Justice Olayinka David Afolabi.

The theatre of justice in Osun State has been experiencing a movie series, melodramatic, some might say, involving the three arms of government, which by the assertions of a group going by the name “Concerned Osun Citizens” could be said to be fueled by the blood of a certain Timothy Adegoke.

Recall that the public was jolted with news of Adegoke, then a post-graduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) being murdered in November 2021, while lodging at Hilton Honours Hotel, Ile-Ife.

Following successful prosecution, Justice Ojo sentenced the owner of Hilton Honours Hotel, Chief Ramon Adedoyin to death by handing on Tuesday May 30, 2023.

It would now appear that Chief Adedoyin had counted on his strong social, business and political ties to evade justice in the matter.

Adegoke’s Blood Crying For Justice

It would seem that the more the high and the mighty teamed up to silence the blood of Adegoke, the more it cried for justice.

Or how would it be better to describe the ‘confusion’ that has characterised the ongoing intrigues of crime, politics and justice at the hallowed temple of justice in Osun State?

The state dominated the headlines across the Nigerian news-space for the better part of the last seven days, with negative vibes.

Watchers of public events consider the unfolding melodrama the crying of innocent blood from the grave and the desperation of ‘soiled hands’ to compromise justice.

This allegedly surmised what led to the travails of Justice Ayodele, suspended and replaced, albeit, “unlawfully”.

Concerned voices from the judicial segment of the society felt intrigued at the speed of ‘removal’, ‘suspension’, ‘appointment of acting CJ by the governor’, ‘denial of appointing acting CJ’, ‘willingness to cooperate with civil society’, and ‘apprising the Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN) and the National Judiciary Council (NJC)’, and ‘claim of being blackmailed’.

Justice Ojo had asked for a judicial intervention or interpretation of her removal from office, but the camp of the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke postured that their principal was not party to the litigation and couldn’t be bound by the outcomes.

This has seen the executive and legislative arms of the Osun State Government oscillating.

In a move, generally perceived as part of desperate efforts to shield Gov Adeleke, the Osun State Government (OSG) has issued media statements almost on daily basis, starting from November 16, when it claimed that the governor approved the Osun State House of Assembly’s (OSHA) resolution for the CJ, Justice Ojo to ‘step aside’.

According to the statement, the OSHA alleged that “the State Assembly on the premise that an official cannot be on the seat whilst investigation is ongoing, asked the Chief Judge to step aside.”

Signed by the Hon Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Osun State, Hon Kolapo Alimi, the statement added that “The Governor only acted on the Resolution of the House.”

Could the governor acting on, have meant giving effect to or executive backing to legislative resolution?

In the same resolution, the OSHA recommended to the governor, not the NJC or the CJN, that the person next in rank to the CJ be sworn-in to replace her, albeit on acting basis.

In the bid to clarify the actions taken by his principal, Hon Alimi stated, “To ensure there is no vacuum, the Governor appointed an Acting Chief Judge, as prescribed by the Constitution in a situation like this.”

This was how Justice Olayinka David Afolabi found himself as the acting CJ of Osun State.

Appointment Of Acting CJ, NBA’s Ire

In another statement, from the executive, this time signed by Spokesperson to the State Governor, Olawale Rasheed, Justice Afolabi was announced as Justice Ojo’s replacement.

It was issued under the subject, “Governor Adeleke Appoints Justice Olayinka David Afolabi as Acting CJ,” on November 16, 2023.

It read, “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.”

This development drew the ire of the and reaction of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).

Probably this saw the statement denied by the OSG via another statement by Hon Alimi.

The NBA, through its National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal, declared last Saturday that it would not accept the appointment of Justice Afolabi as the acting chief judge.

Lawal made it clear that the NBA’s stance is rooted in the constitutional principle of the separation of powers and the crucial independence of the judiciary.

He said, “The tenure of a judicial officer cannot and should not be subject to the mood of politicians.”

The perception minders of Gov Adeleke wants the world to believe that their principal is a law abiding leader, which had seen them apprise the CJN and the NJC.

In another statement issued by Hon Alimi on Sunday November 19, 2023, he averred that it was the OSHA and not the governor who was taking actions on the matter.

According to Hon Alimi, the OSG vehemently denied allegations that “Governor Ademola Adeleke has removed the Chief Judge and appointed an acting Chief Judge.”

What they want the world to believe is that “Governor Adeleke has only duly notified the Chief Justice as the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) in writing about the resolutions of the House of Assembly following a series of petitions made against the sitting Chief Judge of Osun State.

“In the communication, Mr Governor intimated the CJN of the recommendation of the House that the Chief Judge should step aside and included his own submission for an acting appointment to fill the vacuum while the NJC reviews and decides on the petition.

“To that end, the Governor in the same letter recommended to the CJN, the appointment of the most senior judicial officer, Hon. Justice Olayinka David Afolabi for thorough consideration and further processing by the same NJC through the CJN.”

. . . And Concerned Citizens Become Dramatis Personae

However, a group that goes by the name, Concerned Osun Citizens (COC) has risen up against the moves to remove Justice Ojo.

The group had gone public that the allegations of fraud and other things against Justice Ojo were merely made-up to smear her and find a reason to shunt a patriotic law officer out of the way to make way for crime and injustice.

The group alleged in a flyer making the rounds online that personal and family interests were being enthroned over public and national interests in propelling Gov Adeleke to move the hand of the OSHA on the matter.

The COC in the flyer, under the subject, “When Patriots Are Persecuted”, averred that, “The Chief Judge of Osun State, Honourable Justice Ojo, from Ede, has been removed by the state government, because she chose to be patriotic when they asked her to set criminals free. Who are the criminals in question?

“One is Dr Ramon Adedoyin, owner of the Ile-Ife hotel, where OAU student, Timothy Adegoke was killed last year.

“The CJ sentenced Adedoyin to death, for being responsible for Adegoke’s murder, even though the CJ was asked to set Adedoyin free. She insisted, no sinner should go unpunished.

“Governor Adeleke, his sister, Dupe Adeleke-Sanni and Commissioner for Justice, Wole Bada are family friends of killer, Adedoyin. And they are the powerful forces persecuting the innocent CJ.

“Another CJ from Ile-Ife, who is a relative of Adedoyin, has been sworn-in, as the acting CJ to give freedom to Ramon Adedoyin.

“Why should a patriot suffer for doing the right thing?”

The OSG denies all the allegations, insisting that Gov Adeleke was being blackmailed.

Rasheed, alleged that the image of his principal was being tarnished with blatant falsehood by political opponents.

The statement read, “Our attention has been drawn to a defamatory fake news alleging that Governor Ademola Adeleke and his family are after the State’s Chief Judge because of the sentencing of Chief Raheem Adedoyin.

“The truth, which the public must be aware of, is that Mr Governor is being blackmailed with the Adedoyin case for refusing to shield and protect the Chief Judge, his town woman, from corruption probe.

“The blackmail is a falsehood without any foundation in truth. Chief Adedoyin is not and has never, in whatever form, been a friend of the Adelekes.

“Secondly, neither the Governor nor his family had any contact or interference in the Adedoyin case while it lasted. From the beginning to the end, no member of the Adeleke family was involved in any way in the legal process.

“Thirdly, Adedoyin was never in any way involved with the PDP, the party of the Governor. If anything, Adedoyin was a strong APC loyalist and an ally of the former Governor of Osun state.

“What is more, throughout the trial, Adedoyin’s legal team was manned by prominent APC lawyers from the beginning to the end. No single PDP lawyer was involved with the Adedoyin team.

“We affirm that the crisis rocking the state judiciary has to do with a series of petitions from judicial officers on alleged misconduct of the Chief Judge. On each occasion, those petitions always ended up unprocessed over deliberate blackmail with the Adedoyin matter until recent action by the State Assembly.

“The Governor’s sin is his consistent refusal to accept overtures to protect his kinswoman, the Chief Judge, from probe on alleged corruption. Mr Governor has always maintained his ground that if as a Governor he is not immune from accountability questions, why should he use his office to protect another official because of blood or town kinship?

“With all sense of responsibility, we declare that neither Governor Adeleke nor any member of his family has anything to do with the travails of the Chief Judge.

“The Governor’s refusal to shield his town people from corruption probe including the Chief Judge is largely responsible for the failed attempt to blackmail the Governor with the Adeoyin case. We reject the shameful linkage on alleged corruption within the judiciary and the Adedoyin matter. Public officials are not immune from accountability issues.

“We assert strongly that the Governor is not in any way linked with either the petition against the Chief Judge or the infamous Adedoyin case. The Number One Citizen will not use his office to shield anybody from accountability questions even if that person is from his family.

“The Governor has subsequently directed the state law officers to prosecute anybody peddling such defamatory and libelous publications as such fake news has no foundation in truth or reality.”