CNPP faults Osun Assembly verdict on judge’s petition against Aregbesola

Osun State chapter of Conference of Nigeria Political Party (CNPP) has described as travesty of fairness and justice the verdict by Osun State House of Assembly, which dismissed a petition against Governor Rauf Aregbesola by Justice Olamide Folahanmi Oloyede.

Justice Oloyede in her petition accused governor Aregbesola and his Deputy,Titi Laoye –Tomori of mismanagement of Osun state resources and asked the assembly to investigate the allegation and other issues raised with a view to impeaching the respondents if they are found guilty.

A seven-man panel headed by Adegboye Akintunde, Deputy Speaker representing Osogbo constituency set up by the assembly to investigate the petition had on Thursday while presenting its report described the petition as frivolous, emotional and political and therefore urged the House to throw it out.

Besides, the panel also recommended punitive measure for the judge through the State Judicial Council on the premise that as a serving member of the Bench, the judge’s conduct was unethical and belittle her position.

But reacting on the matter yesterday the CNPP faulted the decision by the Assembly describing their action as undemocratic biased and anti-people.

In a statement by the Chairman of CNPP, Pastor Popoola Olatunji and Secretary, Prince Gbade Adelakun, respectively, the association noted that the seven-member All Progressives Congress (APC) House panel’s was not only partisan in its investigation but had betrayed the electorate who voted them into office.

The association said the petition by the judge represents not only the thinking of ordinary people in the state but also a manifestation of the state of affairs in Osun state.

The association said, “We strongly believe that the courageous and indomitable Justice Oloyede is representing the voice of the voiceless and the oppressed masses of Osun State and this voice cannot be silenced by tyrannical rule of Mr. Aregbesola.

“Although Justice Oloyede committed an uncommon offence by choosing to be on the side of the downtrodden people of the state, the outcome of the so called investigation of the panel justified the earlier prediction of various stakeholders in the state.

“We need to make it clear that the Assembly has misled millions of Nigerians and international community on the matter over their claims that the woman judge abandoned her petition, whereas she requested through her lawyer, Mr. Lanre Ogunlesi (SAN) for the response of Aregbesola which the rubber-stamp panel failed to produce.

“We urge the National Judicial Council (NJC) to disregard any letter emanating from Aregbesola’s apologists especially from the State House of Assembly calling for investigation of Justice Oloyede because the judge in our opinion did not commit any offence except being on the side of truth.