Court Adjourns Ex-Judges’ Suit Against Gov. Alao-Akala

Justice Muktar Ladipo Abimbola of the Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, has adjourned a suit instituted by 11 retired judges of the state against Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala till 13 April, 2011.

The aggrieved retired judges are N.O. Adekola, M.O. Adio, R. G. Oyetunde, A. Adeniran, J.O. Ige, K. Jimoh, L.O. Arasi, A. Sanda, Atilade Ojo, S.O. Akintola and T.O. Adeniran (deceased).

Justice Abimbola adjourned the case so that parties in the suit can file the necessary processes in the suit.

All the counsels in the suit are to adopt their written addresses and choose a date for definite hearing on the matter.

The adjournment became necessary following the response of the state government to the motion filed by the retired judges and the need to give the applicants time to respond to it.

The applicants have seven days to do this.

In suit number I/192/11, filed by counsel to the applicants, Alhaji Lasun Sanusi, SAN, the governor and the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Aare Ladi Abdulsalam, were accused of flouting the provisions of the 1999 Constitution on “Certain Political Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances) Act 2002 and the amended Act 2008 by denying the judges their gratuities.

They submitted that the state government was wrong to have deprived them of their entitlements.

They prayed the court to order the government to pay their entitlements with interest.

—Gbenro Adesina/ Ibadan