The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has condemned the suspension of the Chief Judge of Osun State, Oyebola Ojo, by the state government.
News About Nigeria reported that the Osun House of Assembly had, during plenary on Thursday, suspended the Chief Judge in defiance of an order of the National Industrial Court sitting in Ibadan which restrained them from removing her.
Following her suspension, the governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke, appointed Justice Olayinka Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge.
However, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Lawal, the NBA said her removal was unlawful.
According to the statement, the NBA described the action of the governor and the state lawmakers as unconstitutional and an abuse of the rule of law.
Lawal also noted that the Chief Judge’s removal was also an assault on the judiciary and was aimed at intimidating the arm of government in the state.
“The NBA unequivocally condemns this unlawful action by the Osun State Government. The action of the state government is an abuse of the rule of law and a desecration of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the statement partly reads.
He also slammed the Osun government for disregarding the order of the court, which restrained them from removing the CJ, noting that such action is troubling.
Lawal further explained that as a democratically elected state government, they are supposed to comply with the decisions of the court.
He added that due to Osun lawmakers and Adeleke’s disregard for the rule of law, the NBA has resolved not to recognise Justice Afolabi as the acting CJ of the state.
He said the association would stop at nothing until it ensures the decision of the state government does not stand.
