State CJ faces NJC panel over alleged abuse of office
The Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, is currently under investigation by the National Judicial Council (NJC) over allegations of abuse of office. The NJC, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, announced the investigation in a statement following its 107th meeting in mid-November 2024. The statement was signed by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Babalola-Ogedengbe.
The statement revealed, “The Council also empaneled a committee to investigate all complaints and petitions against Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo, Chief Judge, Osun State.”
The investigation stems from a petition submitted by Temitope Fasina, an Osun-based activist, who accused Justice Ojo of several misconducts. The petition, dated October 14, 2024, and received by the NJC, alleges that Justice Ojo misused her office, disobeyed court orders, mismanaged public funds, and unilaterally suspended judicial staff, among other charges.
Fasina’s petition also raised concerns about what she described as “ongoing irregularities, corruption, and high-handedness” within the Osun State Judiciary under Justice Ojo’s leadership. The activist pointed to grievances from the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), which had submitted complaints to both the Osun State House of Assembly and the NJC.
Among the allegations, Fasina claimed there were discrepancies in the judiciary’s audited financial statement, with funds allocated for training and manpower development allegedly misused. She further alleged that expenditures were made without supporting documentation, violating Osun State Government Financial Regulations.
One specific allegation detailed how, on November 13, 2019, the Osun State High Court ordered the forfeiture of ₦7.4 million held by the Chief Registrar of the Osun State High Court. Fasina claimed that Justice Ojo subsequently ordered the funds to be paid into an undisclosed account without proper authorisation.
Fasina has called for the CJN to review the allegations, stating that Justice Ojo is “unfit to remain a judge and Chief Judge of Osun State.”
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