According to reports, a constitutional crisis is developing in Osun State as a result of the Head of Service’s (HOS) request for the Chief Judge of Osun State’s retirement letter on behalf of Governor Nurudeen Adeleke.
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This action is being taken notwithstanding a recent modification to the Federal Republic of Nigeria Constitution of 1999 (as amended), which increases the tenure of superior court judges to 70 years.
According to a press statement issued on June 11 by Chief Yomi Aliyu SAN, the State Head of Service originally asked the Secretary to the Osun State Judicial Service Commission for the retirement letter on behalf of the governor.
After waiting for several hours, the HOS finally gave the secretary the order to meet him at an intersection in Osogbo. Concerned people saw this and immediately informed the Chief Judge (CJ) about the unusual meeting.
As the Chairman of the Osun Judicial Service Commission, the CJ summoned the secretary to her presence and questioned him about his presence in both the HOS office and the road junction meeting. Under pressure, the secretary revealed that the HOS claimed the governor directed him to collect the CJ’s retirement letter from the commission.
Unbeknownst to the involved parties, the Constitution had already been amended to extend the retirement age of judges.
This development has set the stage for a constitutional crisis in Osun State, as judges may face premature retirement if they succumb to the temptation of acting against the constitutional provisions under pressure from the executive.
In the press release, Yomi Aliyu SAN also highlighted the gravity of the situation.
He warns that initiating a constitutional crisis at the start of a four-year tenure could have far-reaching consequences that may overshadow any achievements Governor Adeleke hopes to claim by the end of his term.
The retirement request has raised significant speculation, as the Chief Judge was set to retire in October this year. The CJ has faced criticism in the past for sentencing Prince Adedoyin to death and for being perceived as loyal to the former Governor Oyetola.
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