Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, is prohibited by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) from dismissing Michael Obidiya, the secretary of the Judicial Service Commission (JSCN), and Adepele Ojo, the chief judge of the state.Following separate lawsuits that Ojo and Obidiya—both of whom were represented by Oladipo Olasope—filed to overturn Adeleke's decision to fire them, the orders were granted.
With the case number NICN/IB/6123, the Osun State Chief Judge sued Adeleke, the State Accountant General, the Osun State Attorney General, and the Osun State Judicial Service Commission.
Ojo requested an interim injunction to prevent the defendants from tampering with or terminating her appointment and conditions of service while the interlocutory application was being decided in a motion ex-parte dated November 15, 2023.
In addition, Ojo requested an injunction directing the state government to keep providing her Chief Judge salary and other financial advantages.
Following Olasope's arguments, the court issued an order of temporary injunction prohibiting Adeleke from acting in any way related to Ojo's appointment or terms of service.
Furthermore, until the outcome of the interlocutory application is determined, the court ordered the state accountant general to keep Ojo's salary, entitlements, emoluments, and other benefits as the Chief Judge of Osun State.
The court granted an interim order preventing Governor Adeleke, the Attorney General, the State Judicial Service Commission, and the State Accountant General from changing or terminating Obidiya's appointment as the Secretary of the Osun State Judicial Service in Obidiya's lawsuit (suit number NICN/IB/60/23).
The court further declared: "An order of interim injunction is here issued restraining the defendants from giving effect to the circular issued by the defendants dated November 7, 2023, transferring the said Mrs. Abosede Fagbola to the Judicial Service Commission and/or appointing Mrs. Abosede Fagbola to the position of secretary of the Judicial Service Commission."
"It is here ordered and directed that the fourth defendant, the Accountant General of Osun State, continue to pay the salary, entitlements, emoluments, remuneration, and other benefits."
Both cases have been postponed until December 12, 2023 by the court.