Osun PDP Petitions NJC, Wants High Court Judge Investigated

The Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has lodged a petition against Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe of the Osun State High Court, Ile-Ife Judicial Division over alleged misconduct in the discharge of his judicial duties.

Addressing journalists in Osogbo, the Osun PDP Secretary, Bola Ajao, who frowned at the way Justice Aderibigbe handled the suit instituted by Olasoji Adagunodo, hinted that the party would explore all means to get justice on the matter.

Ajao enumerated that various cases, which Justice Aderibigbe had handled, proved that he had failed as an impartial arbiter.

The petition reads, “Following the removal of Hon Olasoji Adagunodo as the Osun State chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party by the National Working committee on 29th September, 2020, he instituted suit No.HIK/25/2020 by way of originating summons dated 30th October, 2020, before the Osun State High Court sitting at Ikirun Judicial Division wherein, he sought various declaratory reliefs against the party (PDP) and other individual members of the party.

“On 11th March, 2022, Honourable justice AA Aderibigbe granted another interim injunction recognizing the Osun State Governorship primaries conducted by the state/zonal officers of PDP, as against the special State Congress, which was organized, conducted and supervised by the National Executive Committee of the 2nd Defendant on 8th March, 2022 in accordance with sessions 77, 82(1) (5) (b) (1)&(2),(12) and 153 of the Electoral Acts, 2022, Sections 221, 222 and 229 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), articles 12, 13, 25, 29(2), (50) (1), (2) and (e) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic party, 2017 (as amended). See Sadiq Yarudua & Ors vs Yandoma & Ors (2015) 4 NWLR (Pt 1447) 123 at 182,” the petition partly reads.

The party, while calling on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate some of the cases handled by Justice Aderibigbe, also demanded that the competence of the jurist should be subjected to scrutiny.

The petition was undersigned by acting State Chairman, Sunday Bisi, the State Secretary, Bola Ajao and the State legal adviser, Barrister Taofeeq Tewogbade and forwarded to the Chairman of the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Ibrahim.