Court Orders Gov. Akala To Pay Ex- Judges

Adebayo Alo-Akala

Adebayo Alo-Akala

Justice Muktar Ladi Abimbola of the Oyo State High Court today ordered Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala to immediately pay the 11 retired judges of the state their gratuities with interest.

Gov. Adebayo Alo-Akala

In his ruling on the suit filed by the retired judges against Governor Akala, Justice Abimbola described the governor’s arbitrary use of his powers against citizens as worrisome.

The claimants are Justices Nurudeen Adekola, Mashood Olayiwoa Adio, Ruth Oyetunde, Afolabi Adeniran, John O. Ige, Kareem Jimoh, Lambe O. Arasi, A. Sanda, Atilade Ojo, S.O. Akintola and Thophilus O. Adeniran (deceased).

In their writ of summon, the retired judges described the refusal of the governor to pay them their statutory remunerations as dereliction of duty, stressing that it was callous, unfair and unjust.

Justice Abimbola in his ruling said: “For the retired judges to have been denied their benefits after they have completed their service to the state judiciary is unlawful on the part of the governor. The gratuity is mandatory to be paid by the government and failure to do so will attract sanctions. They are also entitled to compensation. I find merit in the claims of the applicants.”

Justice Abimbola noted further that since the retired judges were employed by the state government, their benefits should be paid by the state government while the Federal Government will pay entitlements to federal judges.

According to him, the state government erred in law to have concluded that the benefits of the retired judges must be paid by the National Judicial Commission, NJC.

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The judge also dismissed the preliminary objection raised by the state government.

Reacting to the judgment, one of the retired judges, Justice Lambe lauded the judge, adding that the court was their last option after several entreaties to Akala to pay the benefits.

According to him, we tried our best to settle the issue amicably with state government. “We met officials of the government on several occasions and explained to them that it is the duty of the government to pay the severance benefits but all to no avail,” Justice Lambe added.

He said with the judgment, Governor Akala must pay the benefits whether he likes it or not. “He has to pay our benefits as instructed by the court and if he wishes to appeal, we wish him good luck but we know that at the end of the day, our benefits will be paid,” he said.

—Gbenro Adesina/ Ibadan

 

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