Protesting court workers in Osun State on Wednesday declared a strike to protest the firing of tear gas at them by police operatives and to press home their demands.
State chairman of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, JUSUN, Gbenga Eludire, announced the strike following the incident.
Police operatives had on Wednesday dispersed protesting members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Osun State branch, as the Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo, resumed in her office.
Addressing journalists after the incident, Eludire, said, “Following the action of the police and attitude of the Chief Judge, I, Comrade Gbenga Eludire, hereby order that workers in the sector should withdraw their services till further notice.”
The protesters had since Monday paralysed activities in the State High Court in protest against alleged abuse of office and high-handedness by Ojo.
But on Wednesday, Ojo reportedly made her way back into the premises and the protesters who had left the gate to the premises open, upon realising that the CJ had entered, moved towards where her vehicle was being parked.
Police operatives on the premises subsequently fired teargas to disperse the protesters and those at the scene ran in different directions.
Eludire accused the Chief Judge of declaring war against workers, saying the union would not back down except answers were provided to the questions asked the embattled CJ.
He said the union has picketed the office of the CJ to resolve the unlawful suspension of some of JUSUM members for over 57 months without a recourse to the Judicial Service Commission.
“The stoppage of training of judiciary workers at the NJI despite adequate provision and non-payment of wardrobe allowances for judiciary workers despite adequate provision of the same in the budget.
Governor Ademola Adeleke had on November 16 suspended Ojo, following recommendations of the state legislature.
His spokesperson Olawale Rasheed said the resolution passed was to give the lawmakers room to investigate the allegations against the Chief judge.
Rasheed said the governor also appointed Justice Olayinka Afolabi as the Acting Chief Judge of the state.
The swearing-in of Afolabi as acting CJ, however, did not hold as the Deputy Governor, Mr Kola Adewusi, scheduled to oversee the event, and Justice Afolabi, the said Acting Chief Judge, did not show up at the venue of the exercise on November 17.
The NJC also did not approve the suspension of Justice Ojo and for her replacement by Justice Afolabi.
However, the government of Osun State has denied that Governor Adeleke has removed the Chief Judge and appointed an acting Chief Judge.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, said in Osogbo on November19 that the governor had not even appointed any judicial officer as acting Chief Judge.
“With all sense of responsibility, it is important to set the records straight.
“The governor only forwarded the resolution of the House of Assembly and recommendation for an acting appointment to the Chief Justice of Nigeria for decision and action.”
