Osun gov dragged to court
Osun gov dragged to court
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has been hauled before the National Industrial Court for the unlawful dissolution of statutory boards that his predecessor had established.
Governor Adeleke had dissolved four statutory boards, including the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission, OSSIEC, Judiciary Service Commission, Civil Service Commission and the Osun State House of Assembly Service Commission.
In addition, the Governor appointed and installed new commissioners after the House of Assembly approved his nominations on Monday. In independent lawsuits filed before the Industrial Court’s Ibadan division, board chairs and disbanded commission members asked the court to rule that their dissolution was unlawful, beyond the bounds of authority, and unconstitutional.
Through their attorney Kunle Adegoke, SAN, Olusegun Oladitan (OSSIEC), Babafemi Olatunji (Civil Service Commission), Adebayo Waliyu (Judicial Service Commission), and Awolola Abiodun (House of Assembly Service Commission) requested that the government and its representatives force the boards to be reinstated so that they can finish their five-year term.
The chairman and members of the OSSIEC board urged the court to declare it illegal for the defendants to refuse to pay their salary and emoluments starting in November 2022. Meanwhile, three board chairmen and members urged the court to order the defendants to pay their salaries and emoluments from November 2023 until the expiration of their tenure and also demanded damages to the tune of N500 million. The Osun State House of Assembly, the Commissioner for Finance, the Governor of Osun State, the Attorney General, and the Commissioner for Justice in the state are the defendants in the original summons.
