Osogbo, Feb. 26, 2025 – A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate Justice A. A. Aderibigbe of the State High Court over a controversial ruling that recognized vacancies in the state’s 30 local government areas.
Speaking to journalists in Osogbo on Monday, Oyintiloye criticized the court order, which was issued on February 21, 2025, and permitted the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to proceed with the local government elections held on February 22.
The former lawmaker argued that the ruling contradicted the legal advice issued by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, on February 20, urging Governor Ademola Adeleke to halt the elections. Fagbemi had referenced a recent judgment by the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, which reinstated elected local government chairmen and councillors removed in 2022 by a Federal High Court in Osogbo.
Oyintiloye described the ruling as “strange,” questioning whether a state High Court could override a decision of the Court of Appeal. He also raised concerns about the legal process followed in delivering the judgment.
“I appeal to the NJC to investigate Justice Aderibigbe for bringing the judiciary to ridicule with his ruling recognizing vacancies in Osun LGAs, despite a valid Court of Appeal judgment reinstating elected chairmen and councillors from the October 15, 2022 election,” he said.
He further questioned the circumstances surrounding the ruling, including the absence of affected parties in the proceedings and the alleged use of a Motion on Notice rather than recognized legal procedures such as a Writ of Summons, Originating Summons, Originating Motion, or Petition.
“The law does not recognize commencing an action through a Motion on Notice, yet a court of law proceeded to issue a ruling based on it. This raises serious legal and ethical questions that the NJC must address,” he added.
Oyintiloye also criticized the state government’s decision to proceed with the election despite warnings from security agencies about potential violence, alleging that the disregard for such intelligence contributed to the loss of lives.
He called on the NJC to conduct a thorough investigation to uphold the integrity of the judiciary, emphasizing that the ruling had raised serious concerns about judicial hierarchy and due process.
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