A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Yomi Aliu and Osun State government are currently disagreeing over alleged plan to forcefully retire the Osun State Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo.
According to reports, a constitutional crisis is developing in State as a result of the Head of Service’s (HOS) request for the Chief Judge of Osun State’s retirement letter on behalf of Governor Nurudeen Adeleke.
This action is being taken notwithstanding a recent modification to the Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution of 1999 (as amended), which increases the tenure of superior court judges to 70 years.
He warned that initiating a constitutional crisis at the start of a four-year tenure could have far-reaching consequences that may overshadow any achievements Governor Adeleke hopes to claim by the end of his term.
Aliyu said the Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission is being pressured by the HoS to get the retirement letter.
Reacting to the development, the State government on a statement Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson to Governor Adeleke, described the allegations by Aliu as “pseudo acrimony”.
Rasheed said, “Members of the public need to be informed that there is no controversy on the processes of disengagement or otherwise even with respect to the old and new law on the retirement age for judges of superior courts. All insinuations in the hatchet job are false and figments of imagination of the propagandist.
“Governor Adeleke as a due process leader is committed to full observance of the law without fear or favour and with due reference to impartial application for retirement or extension of tenure of public officials.”
