The National Judicial Council, NJC, has cleared the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, of allegations bordering on financial recklessness, diversion of funds and judicial misconduct.
The Council said it accepted in full the report of a three-member Investigation Committee constituted to examine several petitions submitted against the Osun State Chief Judge.
In a statement released after its deliberations on Wednesday, the NJC said the committee found no evidence to substantiate claims of misappropriation, abuse of office or breach of the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.
The petitions were filed by various individuals and groups, including the Osun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Jimi Bada, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun and four purported members of the Osun State Judicial Service Commission.
Other petitioners included the former Chairman of the Osun State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Eludire Gbenga, a staff member of the Osun Customary Court of Appeal, Temitope Fasina, and three other individuals.
The petitioners alleged, among other things, unilateral suspension of judiciary staff, selective promotion, stoppage of training programmes, disobedience of court orders and misappropriation of judiciary funds.
Specific allegations included the alleged diversion of N7.4 million earmarked for judges’ and magistrates’ retreat, a N5 million robe allowance and proceeds from e-affidavits.
After hearing all parties and their witnesses, the investigation committee held that the joint petition by the Attorney-General and others was incompetent, noting that questions surrounding their membership of the Judicial Service Commission were already before a court of law.
The committee ruled that the remaining petitioners had the locus standi to submit their complaints but found that the suspension of judiciary staff followed due process and did not amount to misconduct.
It further held that issues relating to staff promotion and training were within the statutory responsibilities of the Osun State Judicial Service Commission.
On the financial allegations, the committee said there was “no evidence to show that Justice Ojo diverted or personally benefited from any of the funds referenced in the petitions.”
According to the NJC, “all parties were afforded fair hearing during the investigation process.
“The Committee sat on several occasions, during which all parties were represented by counsel and called witnesses in support of their respective cases.”
It added, “The Committee concluded that none of the allegations amounted to judicial misconduct or a breach of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.”
“Accordingly, it recommended that all the petitions be dismissed, a recommendation which the Council accepted in full,” the NJC said.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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