Osun judge gets another query over Aregbesola

A few weeks after Justice Folahanmi Oloyede received a query from the National Judicial Council (NJC) to explain her role in a divorce mess, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has issued a fresh query to her.

This is based on a petition written against her by the Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC).

It is the second of such queries the judge would be getting since she came to limelight when she petitioned the Osun State House of Assembly to impeach Governor Rauf Aregbesola over what she said was mismanagement of the state’s resources.

The OCSC petition signed by one Mr. Waheed Lawal and two others dated July 28, 2015, asked the NJC to investigate the judge following her petition to the Assembly on Aregbesola.

The NJC query, signed by the CJN with Ref. No. NJC/S.29/HC.OS/16/1/107, was sent to Oloyede through the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, and dated August 25.

It read, “Re: Request for investigation of Justice Oloyede Olamide Folahanmi.

“I forward herewith a petition, dated 28th July, 2015, against you by Comrade Waheed Lawal and two members of Osun Civil Societies Coalition, on the above subject matter.

“The petition speaks for itself. I shall be glad to have your comments within 14 days from the date of your receipt of this letter, please.”

The group asked the NJC to sanction Oloyode in order to prevent other judges, who might want to emulate her, by allegedly surrendering themselves to be used by politicians, to achieve their aims.

The OCSC accused Oloyede of partisanship and failure to conduct herself in a manner to preserve the dignity of her office.

Read also: Aregbesola, Osun judge, NJC, Falana enmeshed in divorce mess

The petition read, “The petition (against Aregbesola) contained statements calculated to incite the residents of the state against the state government and its elected officers. More bewildering are the words and language used by the petitioner and the brazing manner which caused the petition to be circulated to the public.

“It behoves on us to say that the words and language in the petition are unbecoming, maladroit and ungainly for the high standard of conduct expected of any judicial officer in this country.

“The magnitude of impropriety, of the form, dimension and concealed message of the petition violates every ethical standard devoted to the status of a judicial officer.

“If appropriate action was not meted on her (Justice Folahanmi), a floodgate will be opened and every willing and available judicial officer would soon become an instrument of use for the purpose of partisan politics.”

RipplesNigeria …without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now