Suspended Ondo magistrates cry foul over sack

The suspended magistrates in Ondo State have accused Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) of allegedly conspiring with the acting Chief Judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu and the state Judicial Service Commission (JSC) to sack them.

The 60 magistrates and six other senior registrars, who were suspended by JSC on September 14, 2017 for “perceived irregularity in their appointment”, alleged that “the state government incited the illegality.”

While addressing a press conference in Akure, the magistrates led by Gbenga Adeyemi, argued that their employment and promotions from 2011 to 2017 fulfilled all legal requirements and JSC conditions.

Adeyemi said: “The alleged suspension letter was written out of hate, greed, avarice and flagrant disrespect to decorum, reasoning and good conscience.

“At this point, we became worried that it seems the new government of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and Justice Olanrewaju Akeredolu has scores to settle with us.

“Aside the motive behind the said suspension letter, it saddens us that a letter could be issued by the Secretary of JSC with a caption “perceived irregularity.”

“This caption is to say the least an embarrassment to the state Judiciary as this even offends reasoning.  From the caption, it appears that the Acting Chief Judge does not even know the irregularity assuming without conceding there was any,” he stressed.

They also kicked against the reinstatement of four sacked staff of the judiciary whose appointments were terminated in December 2015 for various offences like forgery and truancy by JSC.

They therefore called on the NJC, the EFCC, the state house of assembly and other stakeholders to intervene in the matter.