Justice Adepele Ojo has been affirmed as the Chief Judge of Osun State by the National Industrial Court in Ibadan. The judgment, delivered in a suit numbered NICN/IB/62/2023 by Justice Peters, upheld all the reliefs sought by the Osun Chief Judge against both the Osun State Government and Osun State House of Assembly. This includes a perpetual injunction restraining the government’s executive and legislative arms from removing her as the top judicial officer in the state.
The conflict between the Osun State Government and Justice Ojo escalated in 2023 when the Osun Assembly motioned to suspend her as the Chief Judge. Subsequently, an acting Chief Judge, Justice Olayinka Afolabi, was appointed in her place, but he declined to be sworn in the following day.
Justice Ojo took legal action against the state government and State Assembly, obtaining a restraining order from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Ibadan, Oyo State. This order prevented Governor Ademola Adeleke from demoting her as the substantive CJ.
The court has adjourned the matter until December 12, 2023, for the hearing of a pending motion.
After facing criticism from organizations such as the Nigeria Bar Association and civil society groups, the Osun State Government refuted claims of Justice Ojo’s dismissal. The government spokesperson and Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, clarified that Adeleke had only forwarded the resolution of the House of Assembly for an acting appointment recommendation.
In November 2023, members of the Osun State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union (JUSUN) initiated an indefinite protest against Justice Ojo’s continued tenure as the state Chief Judge. The strike, led by JUSUN State Chairman Gbenga Eludire, cited allegations of mismanagement by Justice Ojo, including improper suspension of workers and discontinuation of essential training programs.
The strike, which halted judicial activities in the state, was officially called off in March 2024.