NJC queries Osun judge over Aregbesola impeachment saga

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has queried Justice Oloyede Olamide Folahanmi of the Osun State Judicial Commission over a petition written to the council by a coalition of civil societies in the state.

A query, which was personally signed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, is expected to be answered within 14 days by the judge.

Justice Oloyede, who has since been in the eye of the storm, had earlier petitioned the state House of Assembly requesting for immediate commencement of impeachment proceedings against Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy, Titi Laoye-Tomori, for alleged mismanagement of the state resources.

A committee was set-up by the House of Assembly to look into the petition and subsequently dismissed the petition for abandonment and lack of evidence against the respondent.

The Osun Civil Societies Coalition later petitioned the National Judicial Council alleging that the judge had 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 petition which was signed by the coalition chairman, Comrade Waheed Lawal, was forwarded to NJC on July 28, 2015, along with a page verifying affidavit requesting for investigation of the judge’s impropriety allegations against the governor.

The petition reads: “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 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 judicial 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.”

SEGUN ADEYEMI, Osogbo