The presiding judge for Osun State High Court sitting in Ikirun, Justice Isiaka Adeleke, on Thursday withdrew himself from the suit of Nigeria Union of Local Governments Employee (NULGE) against reinstated chairmen of All Progressives Congress (APC) over council control crisis.
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Recall that APC elected chairmen took over the 30 councils of Osun state following the February 10, 2025, Appeal Court verdict reinstating them to office after being sacked by Governor Ademola Adeleke in 2022.
Meanwhile, NULGE opposed the resumption of APC chairmen, hence they were dragged before the Ikirun High Court in suit HIK/5/2025 including the Director-General of the Department of State Security, Inspector General of Police, and others.
In April 2025, APC alleged that Governor Ademola Adeleke had concluded plan to carry out judicial coup by procuring fresh court judgment to order Peoples Democratic Party LG chairmen in office against A’Court verdict.
At the sitting on Thursday, Justice Adeleke hinged his withdrawal on a petition authored by the Chairman, APC, Osun State, Tajudeen Lawal, accusing him of moving to give judgment in favour of NULGE without hearing from all parties involved.
He added that an APC chieftain, Mr Sunday Akere publicly accused him of move to deliver a judgement to cause chaos in the state, which has successfully set public opinion against the court.
According to him, On April 6, 2025, one Hon. Sunday Akere addressed a press conference wherein he alleged that this court was brought to procure kangaroo judgement to cause chaos in Osun State. Similarly, on April 10, 2025, one Sooko Tajudeen Lawal petitioned the Honourable Chief Judge of Osun accusing this court of conspiracy with the claimant to procure judgement without hearing from all parties.
“The persons have successfully set public opinion against this court, and in my opinion, justice is rooted in public confidence. And the percentage at times is stronger than reality. I cannot, despite these allegations of bias, proceed to determine the matter, as any outcome would be perceived as biased. If, at the end, a judgment was delivered in favour of party A, the other would say I was bought to deliver it, and if it favoured party B, the other would say I was blackmailed to give the judgment.
“If someone is to be said to be non-partisan, that person is me, as I am accountable to Almighty Allah and the oath of my office. To this end, I shall, in line with the practice of my profession, proceed to disqualify myself from the suit.
“The combined effect of the APC is that I cannot deliver true judgment in this matter, therefore, the file numbered HIK/5/2025 is returned to the Honourable Chief Judge for reassignment.”
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