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Intrigues Of Crime, Politics At Osun’s Temple Of Justice
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.”
Well-equipped criminal syndicates are disguising themselves as members of a Federal Government taskforce to steal critical oil infrastructure across Nigeria.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) made the revelation, describing it as a disturbing trend in the country’s worsening pipeline vandalism crisis.
According to the state oil major, 24 cases of vandalism had been recorded along sections of the Warri-Kaduna crude oil pipeline corridor since 2025, with about nine kilometres of pipeline already stolen by suspected vandals.
The revelation came as the NNPC Ltd, through its Industry-Wide Security Architecture and its subsidiary, the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company, conducted a joint inspection of a vandalised section of pipeline at Pai Community in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The inspection, carried out alongside the Office of the National Security Adviser Special Prosecution Team, the FCT Police Command, the Nigerian Army and other security stakeholders, followed the arrest of three suspected pipeline vandals in the Piri and Pai communities.
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In a statement on Thursday by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, asserted that the inspection was aimed at assessing the extent of damage to the critical national asset, advancing ongoing investigations and reinforcing efforts to combat economic sabotage.
The statement read, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited through the Industry Wide Security Architecture and Nigerian Pipelines & Storage Company in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser Special Prosecution Team, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, the Nigerian Army and other security stakeholders, on Tuesday conducted a joint inspection of a vandalised section of the NPSC crude oil pipeline at Pai Community in Kwali Area Council of the FCT, Abuja.
“The high-level inspection was undertaken to assess the extent of damage to critical national assets, advance ongoing investigations, and reinforce coordinated efforts to combat economic sabotage and safeguard Nigeria’s strategic energy infrastructure.
“The visit followed the arrest of three suspected pipeline vandals in the Piri and Pai communities through a joint operation involving the ONSA Special Prosecution Team, the FCT Police Command, and the NNPC Ltd’s Industry-Wide Security Architecture.”
According to Odeh, the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company, a subsidiary of the NNPC Ltd, owns and manages more than 5,000 kilometres of crude oil and petroleum products pipelines across the country.
He expressed sadness that pipeline theft across the network has intensified in recent years.
“NPSC, a subsidiary of NNPC Ltd, owns more than 5,000km of crude oil and petroleum products pipeline network. Pipeline theft across NPSC’s network has been on the increase since 2024.
“Well-equipped criminals disguising themselves as the ‘NNPC/Federal Government Taskforce for Recovery of Abandoned Pipelines’ connive with locals to dig out and steal these pipelines,” the statement noted.
The company disclosed that 19 incidents were recorded in 2025 alone.
“In 2025, a total of 19 cases were reported, with about 9km of pipeline section stolen along the Enugu-Makurdi-Yola corridor and between Piri and Izom along the Warri-Kaduna pipeline corridors.
“So far in 2026, five cases have been reported at Piri-Kwali and Gwagwalada along the Warri-Kaduna crude oil pipeline segment and at Badanga along the Jos-Gombe pipeline corridor,” it added.
The affected infrastructure serves as a strategic route for transporting crude oil from the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) to the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company (KRPC).
Speaking during the inspection, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Ojulari, represented by the company’s Chief Interface Officer, Dahiru Sani-Gwarzo, said the arrests marked an important breakthrough in the fight against pipeline sabotage.
“The industry-wide security architecture has been actively pursuing criminal elements involved in the sabotage of our energy infrastructure. Those apprehended are only a small part of a larger network.
“Our focus remains on identifying and bringing to justice the masterminds and sponsors behind these criminal activities.
“Beyond the significant economic losses they cause, such acts undermine national development, energy security and investor confidence.
“We will continue to work closely with our security partners to ensure these crimes are decisively addressed,” he said.
On his part, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ahmed Muhammed Sanusi, said the arrests demonstrated the resolve of security agencies to dismantle organised criminal groups targeting national infrastructure.
“The operation demonstrates our collective determination to protect critical national assets and dismantle criminal syndicates involved in pipeline vandalism.
“The suspects were apprehended following intensive intelligence gathering, surveillance operations and targeted patrols after reports of interference with sections of the pipeline.
“Our investigations have already generated valuable leads regarding the sponsors and receivers of the vandalised materials.
“We want to assure Nigerians that all individuals connected to these criminal activities will be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law,” Sanusi stated.
Also speaking, the Director of Energy Security at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Goodluck Ebele, urged Nigerians to support ongoing efforts by providing timely information to security agencies.
“Public vigilance and cooperation remain critical to protecting national assets and strengthening Nigeria’s energy security.
“We appeal to citizens living around these facilities to report suspicious activities promptly. Pipeline vandalism is not a victimless crime; it affects national revenue, energy supply and economic development,” he said.
Representing the Nigerian Army, Lt. Col. J.O. Ajongbo reaffirmed the military’s commitment to safeguarding oil and gas infrastructure nationwide.
“We remain committed to working closely with NNPC Ltd and all relevant agencies to secure critical energy infrastructure across the country.
“The protection of these assets is a national responsibility, and the military will continue to play its part in ensuring that criminal elements do not succeed in their attempts to sabotage the economy,” he stated.
Similarly, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Hon. Sesi Whingan, pledged legislative support to strengthen deterrence against pipeline vandalism.
“We will continue to support measures that enhance the legal and regulatory framework needed to combat pipeline vandalism.
“Those who engage in economic sabotage must understand that there will be consequences, and we will work with relevant institutions to ensure that our laws serve as effective deterrents,” he said.
Pipeline vandalism has remained one of the biggest challenges confronting Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, contributing to production losses, environmental degradation and reduced revenues.
While much of the public attention has focused on crude theft in the Niger Delta, the latest incidents suggest that criminal networks are increasingly targeting pipeline infrastructure in other parts of the country.
President Bola Tinubu has announced that Nigerian security forces have neutralised more than 13,000 terrorists within the past 12 months, describing it as a major breakthrough in the country’s ongoing fight against insecurity.
The President made the disclosure on Friday during his Democracy Day address to the nation, where he outlined progress made by his administration in tackling terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes across the country.
Tinubu said Nigeria has moved beyond routine military training exercises with international allies and is now focused on more precise and effective operations against terrorist groups.
He cited a recent successful military operation in Arege, Borno State, where troops reportedly degraded a command centre belonging to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
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“We have moved from training with our allies, the United States, France and other European countries, to precision targetting. In Arege, Borno State, we degraded ISWAP’s command centre. Terror-related deaths are down by 81 per cent since 2015. Over 13,000 terrorists have been neutralised in the past year,” he said.
The President also emphasized that the Federal Government remains committed to non-kinetic approaches in addressing insecurity, including encouraging repentant insurgents to surrender and reintegrate into society.
He revealed that more than 124,000 insurgents and their dependants have surrendered since 2023 through the government’s Operation Safe Corridor programme.
“But we also keep the door of surrender open. Over 124,000 fighters and dependants have laid down their arms since 2023 through Operation Safe Corridor,” Tinubu stated.
Warning criminals, the President said bandits, kidnappers, and sponsors of terrorism must embrace peace or face the full force of the law.
“To bandits, kidnappers and sponsors of terror: surrender or face the full force of the Nigerian state. These windows of surrender will not remain open forever. No mercy will be shown to those who trade in the blood of Nigerians,” he warned.
Tinubu further urged Nigerians to remain united in the face of security challenges, stressing that criminal activities should not be viewed through ethnic or regional lines.
“At a time like this, let us not assign blame or point fingers. Crime has no ethnicity. We must stand united and be assured that the enemies of our nation shall soon be history. We will triumph over terror and continue to build a more prosperous nation,” he added.
President Bola Tinubu has said that democratic governance must translate into tangible economic benefits for citizens, stressing that “democracy must be felt in the pocket” as his administration continues to implement reforms aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians.
Speaking in his Democracy Day address on Friday, the President said ongoing infrastructure projects across the country are helping to connect producers to markets while creating opportunities for enterprise and employment.
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Tinubu also disclosed that the National Agricultural Development Fund is set to deploy 10,000 tractors over the next five years to boost agricultural productivity and strengthen food production nationwide.
Highlighting some of the gains recorded by his administration, the President revealed that more than 1,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been certified for export.
He added that non-oil exports grew by 21 per cent in the past year, reflecting efforts to diversify Nigeria’s economy beyond crude oil.
Despite these achievements, Tinubu acknowledged that many Nigerians are still grappling with economic hardship.
He said his administration remains focused on reducing inflation, expanding food production, creating jobs, improving living standards and rebuilding confidence in the economy.
According to him, the government is working to move the country “from uncertainty to stability,” with the next phase of reforms aimed at accelerating economic growth and ensuring that progress is felt at household and community levels across all regions.
The President further stated that his administration is pursuing financial autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils, arguing that weak grassroots governance has contributed to development challenges and insecurity in parts of the country.
Tinubu maintained that strengthening local government administration is crucial to addressing insecurity and improving service delivery, adding that the Renewed Hope Agenda is designed to ensure that the dividends of governance reach every Nigerian.
He reiterated his commitment to building a more stable and prosperous nation where the benefits of democracy are visible in the everyday lives of citizens.
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