Suspense over who becomes Osun CJ

MEMBERS of the Osun State Judicial Service Commission, on Monday, met behind closed door, to discuss, among other issues, who becomes the next chief judge in the state between Justice Olubunmi Oyewole from Lagos High Court and Justice Adepele Bola Ojo, as the incumbent chief judge retires in November.
The commission is expected to forward two names to the NationalJudicial Council (NJC) and whoever is picked will take over from Justice Olaniyi Ojo.
Speaking after the meeting, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Afolabi, denied that issue of who becomes the next chief judge was ever discussed, stating that it was not on the agenda.
But a reliable source said the issue of who becomes the next chief judge was being deliberately kept secret, adding that the council wanted it to remain secret until the name was announced.
According to the source, the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, was disposed to having Justice Oyewole, an indigene of Ila-Orangun in the state, but who works in Lagos High Court as thenext chief judge.
The decision to appoint Justice Oyewole was said to have irked some senior judges in the service of the state.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a statement issued by its head of legal services, Chief Sunday Williams, said Justice Oyewole was made a judge on May 24, 2001 during the tenure of Senator Bola Tinubu as Lagos State governor, adding that it was currently on number 33 in Lagos High Court, while he had not served in the Osun State judiciary.
Also, a group, Osun Justice Forum, in a statement issued by its coordinator, Lawal Atanda, said it was surprised to read in some newspapers that some senior lawyers in the state were in support of the move to appoint Justice Oyewole as Osun chief judge.
The forum said it would resist any attempt to import chief judge from Lagos, stressing that it was aware of a campaign group set up by some politicians to garner support for Oyewole.