From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

A lawyer, Yomi Aliu SAN, and the Osun State Government have traded words over a purported attempt to retire the Chief Judge of the state contrary to the provision of the new constitution.

The legal luminary had in a statement signed personally and made available to newsmen on Monday, alleged that the Head of Service requested the letter of retirement from the Chief Judge from the Secretary to the Osun State Judicial Service Commission notwithstanding the current amendment to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

He alleged that the HOS acted on the instruction of Governor Ademola Adeleke, saying that the secretary of the commission and the HOS were having a secret meeting on the matter which was later exposed to the CJ.

According to him, “The CJ as the Chairman of Osun JSC summoned the Secretary, JSC to her presence and asked what he was doing in both HOS office and road junction meeting. The Secretary had no choice but to tell the CJ that the HOS said the Governor asked him to go and collect CJ’s letter of retirement from JSC hence his summoning him to his office and road junction.”

He maintained that the amended Constitution provides for the extension of terms of judges of superior courts to 70 years, warning against the constitutional crisis in the state.

The CJ, Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo is expected to bow out from the bench this year before the amendment of the constitution extending the year of service of judges to 70 years.

When contacted, the Head of Service, Samuel Aina, debunked the allegation, describing it as ‘unfounded.’

Also, the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, explained that the present administration enjoys a very warm and harmonious relationship with the judiciary, saying that “there is no controversy on the processes of disengagement or otherwise even concerning the old and new law on the retirement age for judges of superior courts.

“Governor Adeleke as a due process leader is committed to full observance of the law without fear or favor and with due reference to the impartial application for retirement or extension of tenure of public officials.

“Mr. Aliu is cautioned on his constant false alarm and his phantom claim of constitutional crisis in Osun when there is none at all. The Judicial Service Commission is an executive body and its staff are appointees and employees of the executive. Therefore, it is indecent of Mr. Aliu to unduly meddle in the running of affairs of the government.