In response to the removal and alleged mistreatment of the Osun State Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Ojo, judiciary workers in the state have declared an industrial action.
The strike was triggered by the deployment of teargas against protesting workers and journalists stationed at the High Court entrance in Oke-Fia.
Gbenga Eludire, Chairman of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Osun Chapter, stated,
“Since the government has declared war against the workers, I hereby order that workers in the sector should withdraw their services till further notice.”
Earlier, SaharaReporters covered the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) expressing strong disapproval of the suspension of Justice Ojo and the designation of Olayinka Afolabi as her successor. The NBA affirmed its refusal to acknowledge Afolabi as the Chief Judge of Osun State, pledging to contest the decision made by the state government.
During Thursday’s plenary, the State House of Assembly ordered the suspended Justice Ojo to step aside pending the investigation’s outcome.
Governor Adeleke, on Friday, appointed Justice Olayinka Afolabi as the acting Chief Judge, despite a prior court order restraining the governor from removing Ojo, which was ultimately disobeyed.
Reacting to the suspension, the body of Nigerian lawyers issued a statement describing Ojo’s removal as an unlawful and unwarranted assault on the judiciary.
| Sahara Reporters
