Operatives of the Nigerian police police and judicial workers have clashed at the Osun State High Court in Oke-Fia, Osogbo over the embattled Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Ojo.
Police disperse protesting judicial workers who are demanding the removal of the embattled Chief Judge of the state, Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo.
DAILY GIST reports that members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) had on Monday staged a protest at the state High Court in Osogbo, alleging non-payment of their wardrobe allowances and unjust suspensions of some of their members by Justice Adepele-Ojo.
The protest continued on Wednesday, with union members gathering at the court premises to voice their grievances.
But tension erupted at the state High Court Osun after the demonstration turned chaotic on Wednesday.
An altercation erupted between some of the protesters and police officers stationed at the court’s entrance following the resumption of Justice Ojo in her office and
It was gathered that the leadership of the union kicked against her resumption following the suspension by the governor, hence they attempted to harass her and forced her out of office.
But, the security operatives escorting her resisted it. The confrontation quickly escalated, leading to the police deploying teargas to disperse the crowd.
The situation sent protesters and journalists scampering to safety, while commuters were forced to detour from the area.
In the aftermath of the clash, the Osun JUSUN chairman, Comrade Gbenga Eludire, announced an indefinite strike in the state, potentially bringing all judicial activities in the state to a standstill.
He said: “Regularisation and promotion exercise without further delay should be effected.
“Also other benefits that members of JUSUN are entitled to should be effected without further delays.”
Eludire directed all Judiciary workers in the state to stay away from the courts and their offices and withdraw their services.
Recall that Justice Adepele-Ojo had been suspended by Governor Ademola Adeleke on recommendation of the Osun Assembly over allegations that she diverted funds meant for the state judiciary library and robe allowances for staff, totaling N5 million.
The CJ was also accused of indiscriminately suspending judicial staff, diverting their salaries, and misappropriation of proceeds recovered from convicted armed robbers in the state.
But in a response to the allegations, Justice Adepele-Ojo’s counsel, Barrister Olasope, SAN, challenged the Osun Assembly’s authority to recommend her removal, citing Section 292 of the Constitution, which designates the National Judicial Council as the only body responsible for disciplining a Chief Judge.
She also dismissed the allegations leveled against her as baseless and criticized the Assembly’s approach.
