The National Judicial Council (NJC) has declined the request by Governor Ademola Adeleke to replace Justice Adepele Ojo as the Chief Justice of Osun State.
Chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, the Council from its 104th meeting of December 6 and 7, 2023, affirming that Justice Adepele Ojo is still the recognised Chief Judge of the state.
The Council directed Osun State to revert to status quo.
A statement signed by the Director of Information of the NJC, Soji Oye, says the council also recommended the compulsory retirement of a judge of the Osun State High Court, Justice Sakariyah Oyejide Falola, from the Bench.
The recommendation follows the findings of an investigation committee in a petition written by Mr Dapo Kolapo Olowo and Polaris Bank against the judge for granting a Garnishee Order Absolute against the bank for the sum of N283,174,000.00 (Two Hundred and Eighty-Three Million, One Hundred and Seventy-Four Thousand Naira) in a questionable and strange manner.
The committee found the conduct of Justice Falola traveling to Lagos to visit the counsel of the bank in his chambers on the issue of Garnishee Proceedings, unbecoming of the standard expected of a judicial officer.
Consequently, the NJC in the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the Constitution has suspended Justice Falola from office pending the approval of the recommendation of his compulsory retirement by Governor Adeleke.
The Council also considered the reports of other investigation committees that had concluded their sittings, and dismissed the petitions written against the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaete Obot.
