A coalition of civil society groups has warned the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to desist from any attempt to illegally remove the Chief Judge of Osun State, Honorable Justice Adebola Adepele Ojo.
The groups said such a move would plunge the state into crisis and undermine the independence of the judiciary.
The groups, which include Transparency and Accountability Group (TAG), Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Dialogue 360 and Osun Civil Societies Coalition, made the statement on Wednesday through their spokesperson, Ayo Ologun.
They alleged that the governor was trying to remove the Chief Judge as a reprisal for her refusal to be manipulated by the executive.
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The group said the Chief Judge had a constitutional duty to uphold justice and ensure the fair and impartial administration of the law, and that her commitment to these principles should be celebrated, not punished why calling on the governor to respect the independence of the judiciary and cease any attempts to remove the Chief Judge based on political reasons.
The state government, however, denied any plot against the Chief Judge, but said that no public official was immune to accountability process.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said the government was unaware of any attempt to remove the Chief Judge, but added that the government would not tolerate any act of indiscipline or corruption in the judiciary.