10th September, 2012
The Oyo State Government has petitioned the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, alleging abuse of office by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Ibadan Division of the court.
Government grouse has to do with the case instituted against it by the former Chairman of the state branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Lateef Akinsola, popularly called Tokyo.
The petition was made known by Dr. Festus Adedayo, the Special Adviser on Media to Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
Adedayo cited a letter written by the Deputy Registrar seeking police assistance to reinstate Tokyo as NURTW Chairman in the state.
The Deputy Chief Registrar, Ibadan Division, A. A Tahir, Esq, allegedly wrote the letter to the state Commissioner of Police and copied to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, (AIG), zone X1.
In the petition written by the Attorney General and Comissioner of Justice, Mr. Adebayo Ojo, the state government said by the letter, the Deputy Chief Registrar was seeking for police assistance to execute a declaratory judgment to which neither he personally nor his office was a party to.
“It is worthy of note, that there is a pending application before the court, by the persons named as the second to the 13th applicants, praying the court to set aside its judgment on the grounds that the suit was fraudulently commenced in their names without their knowledge or consent. Under these circumstances, the letter of the Deputy Chief Registrar is therefore a thing of curiousity and if actually confirmed to be authored by him, ought to raise suspicions as to what his interest is in seeking the assistance of the Nigeria Police in executing a declaratory judgment,’’ he said.
The commissioner said that Tahir’s act was tantamount to an attempt to usurp the powers of the court by issuing an order of execution under the guise of a letter of assistance to execute a judgment adding, “We, therefore, urge your lordship, in your capacity as the administrative head of this noble court to cause an investigation to be carried out into the authenticity of the letter and the conduct of Mr. A. A. Tahir, in order to nip in the bud, activities which might cause embarrassment to the impartial status and dignity of the court”.
Meanwhile, Governor Ajimobi has approved the appointment of Prince Adetunji Wasiu Gbadegesin as the Acting Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General of the Ministry of Justice, Oyo State.
Prince Gbadegesin was born on the 23rd April, 1962 to the Royal Ladigbolu family of Oyo, Oyo State. He attended L.A. Primary School, Idi-Ope, Oyo between 1968 -1974, Ladigbolu Grammar School, Oyo between 1975 -1980 for his secondary school education.
—Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan