The coalition of civil society organisations in Osun State has accused the state governor, Ademola Adeleke of plotting to remove the Chief Judge, Justice Adeleke Ojo.
The coalition at a press conference said the governor was attempting to remove the CJ through the legislative arm.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Ayodeji Olohun of Transparency and Accountability Group (TAG), Emmanuel Olowu of Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and Ismaheel Adedojun of Dialogue 360 cautioned Adeleke to respect rule of law and separation of powers.
The coalition said “This move is particularly troubling as it appears to be a reprisal against the chief judge for her principled stand against attempts to manipulate the judiciary in the state.
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“The independence of the judiciary is a cornerstone of any democratic society and any attempt to undermine or interfere with the judiciary compromises the very foundation of the rule of law.
“The chief judge, in her capacity, has a constitutional duty to uphold justice and ensure the fair and impartial administration of the law. Her commitment to these principles should be celebrated, not met with attempts at removal for political reasons.
“As civil society organisations, we are deeply concerned about the implications of this action on the integrity of the judiciary in Osun State. The judiciary plays a crucial role in maintaining the checks and balances essential to a well-functioning democracy. Any interference in its operations erodes public trust and undermines the constitutional framework that guarantees the separation of powers.
“We hereby call on Governor Ademola Adeleke to respect the independence of the judiciary and immediately cease any attempt to remove the chief judge based on her principled stance. The judiciary must be allowed to operate without fear of reprisal or political interference, ensuring that justice is served impartially and without bias.”
Reacting to the allegation, the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi said the state government is unaware of any plot against the state chief judge.
Alimi said the state government is committed to due process and stipulated regulations across the arms of government.
According to him, “The state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke and his team are preoccupied with delivering on good governance to the citizenry with no time for diversionary conducts.
“The government also wishes to state that the constitution and the state laws clearly spell out responsibilities of state officials. The same laws lay out rules for accountability and transparency across government sectors. The governor and all government officials whether elected or appointed into any arm of government are not immune from the accountability process.
“The governor is therefore not in a position to stop the legislature from doing her statutory job and neither can the governor hamstring the judiciary in the performance of its duties. The governor is however committed to supporting all arms of government to operate within the ambit of the law and constitution.”
