Osun Assembly Vows to Sustain Efforts to Cleanse Judiciary of Alleged Corruption

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

The Osun State House of Assembly yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to its constitutional roles, including ridding the judiciary in the state of corruption.

It noted that its resolution on the Chief Judge of the state, Adepele Ojo, to step aside was in line with the natural rule of fairness and transparency.

 The Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Kanmi Ajibola, said this when the House received members of the Judicial Service Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) at the Assembly complex in continuation of its protest against the embattled CJ’s management of the state’s judiciary.

While addressing the protesting judicial workers on behalf of the House, he said the legislature’s actions were geared towards cleansing the judiciary of corruption in order to restore the confidence of the people.

Ajibola dismissed as unfounded insinuations in some quarters that the steps taken on the CJ was motivated by interests outside a better judiciary, pointing out that the law-making arm of government has a duty imposed on it by the constitution to exercise oversight function on the two other arms of government.

“But let me state clearly, we received some petitions against the CJ, and there are reports accompanying those petitions that if the CJ is allowed into her office, that there are some documents that will be tampered with, that will distort the investigation.

“And on this note, the people that brought petitions, they are entitled to fair hearing. The CJ, whom petition was brought against is also entitled to fair hearing,” he said.

Speaking earlier, JUSUN led by its Chairman, Oluwagbemiga Eludire, said they were at the Osun Assembly to enlist the support of the legislative branch of government in saving them from the unfair treatment they were getting from the embattled CJ.

He detailed several cases of alleged abuse of office and disregard for their rights as workers by Ojo.

He narrated how the CJ allegedly forced herself into the High Court Complex with the support of police, against his colleagues who had picketed her office since on Monday demanding for the reinstatement of their colleagues that were unjustly suspended since 2021 and immediate payment of their allowances.

JUSUN called on the Assembly to look to issues bedevilling the judiciary in the state, saying the group stands firmly with the House on steps that will clean the judiciary and make it more effective.