Osun Judiciary workers accuse embattled CJ of funds embezzlement, alleged maltreatment
By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
Judicial workers in Osun State under the aegis of the Judiciary Staff Union have accused the embattled Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo of embezzling funds and mismanagement of the state’s judiciary.
The protesting workers led by Mr. Oluwagbemiga Eludire, on Monday shut down the entrance to the Osun State High Court in Osogbo, State capital.
It would be recalled that Justice Adepele-Ojo was last week Thursday, asked to step aside by the state House of Assembly pending investigations on allegations of corruption, gross-misconduct and abuse of office.
It was gathered that the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Osun state chapter picketed the office of the State Chief Justice.
The action according to the protesters was to solidarise with some of their members whom they have suffered various forms of persecution under the embattled Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo.
Armed with placards with inscriptions such as “Judiciary staff deserves better treatment,” “We are tired of oppression and stagnation,” “Unlawful suspension of Judiciary staff without recourse to Judicial Service Commission is barbaric” and “Unlawful Dismissal of judiciary staff against the public service rules” among others, the workers accused Adepele-Ojo of refusal to pay wardrobe allowances of workers and other emoluments in the last three years.
The Chairman Osun JUSUN, Oluwagbemiga Eludire, while speaking with journalists at the premises of the Osun State High Court which houses the office of the Chief Judge, added that their agitations were quite separate from the actions of the state government.
Eludire said their action was because, “We demanded from Justice Ojo why our wardrobe allowance from 2021 till date has not been released despite funding by the state government.
“We want to know why the government directive on promotion and advancement made available by the Osun government was not used for the purpose approved for.
“We want to know why notable JUSUN members were unlawfully suspended without proper investigation against public service rules.
“We will not back down until appropriate action is taken on the matter.
