November 16, (THEWILL) – The National Industrial Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, has restrained Governor Ademola Adeleke from removing the Chief Judge (CJ) of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Ojo.
The restraining order, which followed a suit, numbered NICN/IB/61/2023, filed by the CJ against Governor Adeleke, Attorney General of Osun State, Osun State Judicial Service Commission and the Accountant General of Osun State retrained the four defendants.
Ruling on a motion ex parte filed on Wednesday, November 15, by Justice Oyebola Ojo through her counsel, Oladipo Olasope (SAN), the presiding Judge of the Court, Justice Dele Peters, on Thursday, directed Adeleke to fortify security around the CJ to protect her from all forms of harassment, pending the determination of the suit filed before the court.
The order read: “An order of interim injunction is issued restraining the defendants by themselves or their agents or privies howsoever so-called from interfering with removing, reversing or terminating the appointment and conditions of service of the Applicant as the Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State including but not limited to salaries and other pecuniary benefits pending the determination of the interlocutory application.
“An order is here issued mandatory for the 4 Defendant (Account General) to continue to pay the salary, entitlements, emoluments and other benefits and money the Applicant is entitled to as the Hon. Chief Judge of Osun State pending the determination of the interlocutory application.
“Taking cognisance of the gender of the Applicant as a wife, a mother and a grandmother, the first defendant as the Chief Security Officer of Osun State with keys to all security apparatus is ordered and directed to ensure adequate protection to the Applicant from all forms of harassment and from all quarters pending the hearing and determination of the originating summons.
“Finally, it is directed that the 2nd Defendant (Attorney General) as the Chief Law Officer of Osun State will appropriately advise the Defendants in general and the 1st Defendant in particular on the imperative of complying fully with the orders of this Court.”
The court has adjourned until December 12, 2023, for hearing substantive motion.
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