By Lakpene Yusuf Bida

Under which provision of the 1999 CFRN did the Governor of Osun State use to suspend or temporarily removal the Chief Judge of the State? Is he aware of the provisions of section 4,5 and 6 of the 1999 CFRN that has clearly stated the powers of each of these Arms of the Government to prevent undue interferences.

What about the provisions of section 271(1) of the 1999 CFRN that gives the power of appointment of Judicial Officer/s to the Governor even though on recommendations from the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Therefore, no Governor can either remove or suspend any Judicial Officer talkless of Chief Judge suspected to have committed any infraction that requires sanction by the Governor.

This constitutional provision is so clear. Why was this provision not respected by the Governor. Above all, the Government of Osun State has an Attorney-General to appropriately advise the Governor if such Governor is a novice.

More surprisingly is that, Osun State has many great Legal Practitioners that can readily let the constitution be respected by the Governor.

If this flagrant abuse of power from the Governor of Osun State is allowed to go, Osun State is finished and by extension Nigeria.

I am not from Osun State but a lawyer and an automatic member of NBA. It’s therefore pertinent to call on all our members in Osun State and by extension Nigerians to intervene in this matter so as to save our judicial system from being ridiculed.

If a Chief Judge can be removed or suspended by not strictly following the provisions of sections 271(1) and 292(1)(ii) of the 1999 CFRN by the Governor, then the Nigeria Judiciary is in danger.

Again, it’s only the Judiciary that is in danger but all Nigerian lawyers and the judicial system.

The Governor must be called to order and infact demanded to apologise to the Hon. Chief Judge and the entire Osun State Judiciary.

Executive rascality must be immediately stopped in Nigeria. The Governor must be made to understand that his powers does not go beyond the provisions of 1999 CFRN which as lawyers we all believe is the Grundnorm.

Lawyers must protect the sanctity of all Nigerians and their institutions. May we be properly guided.