CJN queries Osun judge again

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has issued a fresh query to Justice Folahanmi Oloyede, based on a petition written against her to the National Judicial Council (NJC) by a group known as the Osun Civil Societies Coalition (OCSC).

The OCSC, in the petition signed by one Mr. Waheed Lawal and two others dated July 28, 2015, asked the NJC to investigate the judge following her petition to the Osun State House of Assembly where she accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of corruption.

A copy of the query, signed by the CJN and received by the judge last Wednesday, had Ref. No. NJC/S.29/HC.OS/16/1/107, written to Oloyede through the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, and dated August 25, was said to have been delivered to the embattled judge last Wednesday.

It would be recalled that an earlier query dated July 28, 2015 was sent to the judge following a petition by a mother of four, Mrs. Emily Richard-Obire, who accused the judge of co-habiting with her husband.

The fresh query read, “Re: Request for investigation of Justice Oloyede Olamide Folahanmi.

“I forward herewith a petition, dated 28th July, 2015, against you by Comrade Waheed Lawal and two members of Osun Civil Societies Coalition, on the above subject matter.

“The petition speaks for itself. I shall be glad to have your comments within 14 days from the date of your receipt of this letter, please.”

The group asked the NJC to sanction Oloyode in order to prevent other judges, who might want to emulate her, by allegedly surrendering themselves to be used by politicians, to achieve their aims.

The OCSC accused Oloyede of ‘partisanship and failure to conduct herself in a manner to preserve the dignity of her office.’

“The petition (against Aregbesola) contained statements calculated to incite the residents of the state against the state government and its elected officers. More bewildering are the words and language used by the petitioner and the brazing manner which caused the petition to be circulated to the public.

“It behoves on us to say that the words and language in the petition are unbecoming, maladroit and ungainly for the high standard of conduct expected of any judicial officer in this country.

“The magnitude of impropriety, of the form, dimension and concealed message of the petition violates every ethical standard devoted to the status of a judicial officer.

“If appropriate action was not meted on her (Justice Folahanmi), a floodgate will be opened and every willing and available judicial officer would soon become an instrument of use for the purpose of partisan politics,” read the petition.

It will be recalled that the NJC six weeks ago queried Oloyede following a petition written against her by one Mrs. Richard-Obire, accusing her of snatching her husband.

This is just as another group, the Civil Societies Coalition for Emancipation of Osun State had risen in defence Oloyede arguing that an Ikeja High Court had already dissolved the said woman’s marriage.