19th November, 2023
A human rights advocacy group, Save the Poor and Needy Charity Initiative (SPANCI), has described the removal of the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, by Governor Ademola Adeleke as illegal and unconstitutional.
SPANCI described the removal of the Osun State Chief Judge as unlawful and an executive-legislative conspiracy that is not good for democracy, the rule of law, and the separation of powers.
It was reported earlier that Adeleke had announced the removal of Ojo as the state’s chief judge over abuse of power, among other allegations.
The president of SPANCI, Yemi Ezekiel Bello, said in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday that the governor’s decision is unsuitable for democracy and the rule of law.
He maintained that the governor’s decision is tantamount to subjugating the judiciary and judicial officers to the executive and legislative arms of government.
Bello, who further advised the governor not to play politics with everything, demanded the immediate reversal of the removal of the chief judge.
According to his statement: “Osun CJ, Justice Oyebola’s Ojo removal is unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, an executive and legislative conspiracy, not good for democracy, the rule of law, separation of powers of the three arms of government and citizens human rights defence.
“We, in Save the Poor and Needy Charity Initiative (SPANCI), are against the unconstitutional removal of Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo by His Excellency, Ademola Adeleke, the executive governor of Osun State.”
He further stated: “If this illegality is allowed to stay then the executive and legislative arm of government can conspire against the citizens and their human rights without obeying the court to suit their personal opinion as our courts and her orders will be useless and our democracy is doomed as our legal and judicial system becomes a slave to both the executive and legislative and [this is] also an invitation to anarchy.”
He concluded: “We hereby demand the immediate reversal of such unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional removal in obedience to our constitution and protection of the rule of law, which is good for a pure democratic nation.”