*Says State Assembly asked CJ to step aside
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Osun State, Barrister Wole Jimi-Bada has declared that Governor Ademola Adeleke is not involved in the stepping aside order on Mrs Adepele Ojo as the State Chief Judge.
Barrister Jimi-Bada who made this known in a statement on Thursday evening, that Mrs Ojo was asked to step aside from office as a result of a petition.
According to the Attorney General,a strongly worded petition was sent to the Osun State Judicial Service Commission and the State House of Assembly, which lead to the hearing and eventual resolution of the State House of Assembly to ask the Chief Judge to step aside.
The Attorney General stressed that the House of Assembly further launched investigation into the allegation contained in the said petition and even summoned the Chief Judge to appear before its investigative committee.
” As part of its investigation, the House passed a resolution recommending that the State Governor should ask the Chief Judge to step aside and appoint an acting Chief Judge pending the outcome of the investigation by both the House of Assembly and the NJC to which the matter has been referred”, he said.
Barrister Jimi-Bada added, ” As the Governor believes so much in due process, rule of law and fear of God, he approved the recommendation with a caveat that if the Chief Judge is found to be innocent, she should return to her position.
” Governor Adeleke only acted to ensure that there is no vacuum by appointing an acting Chief Judge as a temporary measure.We want to assert that the Governor was not the writer of the petition nor is the Governor the retinue of persons who provided multiple evidence as regards the conduct of the Chief Judge, as contained in the petition”.
The Attorney General stressed further ” By appointing an acting Chief Judge, the Governor only acted to ensure there is no vacuum and there is no tampering with potential evidence while the investigation lasted”.
