Call For Aregbesola’s Impeachment: NJC Queries Osun Judge

 

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has queried a serving judge in Osun State, Justice Olamide Falahanmi Oloyede, over her petition to the state House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori for allegedly mismanaging the state’s resources.

A committee was set-up by the House of Assembly to look into the petition and the house subsequently dismissed the petition for lack of evidence against the governor and his deputy.

Following this, the Osun Civil Societies Coalition petitioned the National Judicial Council, alleging that the judge over-stepped her limit as she failed to conduct herself in such a manner as to preserve the dignity of her office being an impartial and independent organ, thereby exposing the judiciary to ridicule and disrepute.

The NJC has acted on this. A query letter which was personally signed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed is expected to be answered within 14 days by Oloyede.

The petition by the coalition of civil societies reads in part: “the judge action is certainly meant to incite the residents of the state against the State Government and its elected officers; the magnitude of the impropriety and concealed message of the petition written by her violates the ethical standard expected of a judicial officer, not only in Nigeria but the world at large”.

“Oloyede’s act constitutes gross misconduct that runs contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial officers and will impact negatively on the judicial system if appropriate sanction is not meted to her and also makes other judiciary officers to become instrument of use for the purpose of partisan politics.”

“That the content of the petition embodies copious political statements, unsubstantiated allegations and accusation aimed at deriding, demeaning and undermining the Government, the person and character of the governor, his deputy and aides.”