Adeleke denies appionting acting CJ, APC Knocks gov

Governor Ademola Adeleke has denied appointing an acting CJ to replace Osun State Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo.

Recall that DAILY IMPACT reported that the Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo was last Thursday asked to step aside by the State House of Assembly to allow for an investigation into some petitions written against her.

Similarly, the same day, the spokesperson for the governor, Olawale Rasheed, in a statement sent to journalists in Osogbo, that Adeleke had approved the appointment of Justice Olayinka Afolabi as acting CJ in place of the Ojo.

According to the report, Rasheed said, Governor Ademola Adeleke has appointed Justice Olayinka David Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge of Osun state with immediate effect following the approval of the resolution of the House of Assembly.

That same day, in another statement, Rasheed said the deputy governor, Kola Adewusi, would perform the swearing-in ceremony for Afolabi, who is next on the order of seniority, the following day, Friday.

But the swearing-in did not hold with the government saying it was following the necessary procedures.

But in a fresh twist on Sunday, the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said Adeleke had not appointed anyone as acting Chief Judge.

Alimi said Adeleke in his communication to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, only notified him of the current investigation of Osun Chief Judge and made a recommendation to the National Judicial Council for the appointment of an acting Chief Judge.

The commissioner said Adeleke is a man of due process and rule of law with a deep level of respect for the Bar and the bench, the NJC and the country’s constitution.

Recall that DAILY IMPACT, reported that the Nigerian Bar Association, opposed the decision of Gov Adeleke to appoint a acting Chief Judge and asking Justice Adepele Ojo to step down.

Meanwhile, the opposition party All Progressive party has traded words with the Peoples Democratic Party over the removal of Justice Ojo and appointment of an acting justice.