A human rights body, the Centre for Human Rights and Social Justice (CHRSJ) has written a Petition Letter to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman, National Judicial Council (NJC), Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, reporting the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke over the flagrant disobedience to Appeal Court Judgment of Akure Judicial Division in Appeal N0: CA/AK/58/2021 and also appeal before the Supreme Court of Nigeria in SC/CV/1079/2022 on Alawo Chieftaincy Stool.
It stated that the Petition Letter was as a result of the Governor Ademola Adeleke plan to present the Staff of Office to a deposed new Alawo,Mr. Adegboye Taiwo Abdulrasaq on the 9th of December,2023, in flagrant disregard to the Appeal Court Judgement that had nullified the selection/or election, approval, appointment and subsequent installation of Adegboye.
The group stressed that the unanimous Appeal Court Judgment also warned the State Government over disrespect to Court pronouncements by restraining Adegboye Taiwo Abdulrasaq from parading himself as or performing any of the functions of the Alawo of Awo or wearing or displaying any insignia of the office of Alawo of Awo, including beads, crowns, and all other paraphernalia of the stool and also awarding a sum of Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (N800,000) against Adegboye as Appellant.
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Meanwhile, it has been widely reported in the media that Adegboye forged no fewer than nine(9) documents including; selection documents, identity theft of Notification of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) Results and NYSC Certificate, perjury and falsification of dates of birth, which have been the subject of investigation by the security agents and other anti-graft agencies and other agencies of government, for his earlier appointment as new Alawo before the Appeal Court Judgment nullified the illegal appointment and subsequent installation.
According to the statement issued and signed by the CHRSJ’s Assistant General Secretary (AGS), Pastor Michael Agaasi and copies were made available to newsmen on Friday, described all the plan actions of Governor Adeleke on the subject matter as illegal, unconstitutional, uncalled for, aberration, abomination, null and void and an affront to the rule of law in the land.
Pastor Agassi, while supporting his argument with the Supreme Court Judgement in the case of ABACHA V. FAWEHINMI (2002)2 SCNQR 489 at 546 held thus :”…. It is the law that a decision of a Court of competent jurisdiction,no matter that if seems palpable null and void, unattractive or unsupportable, remains good law and uncompromisingly binding until set aside by a superior Court of competent jurisdiction”.
While commending the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and Chairman,National Judicial Council (NJC), Honourable Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, GCON, for standing on the truth on the subject matter of reference numbers: NJC/S.29/HC.08/17/1/394 and NJC/S.29/HC.08/17/1/485 respectively, praying to God to continue give him Solomon wisdom to pilot the affairs of the third arm of government in the land to the greater height.
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Taiwo Abdulrasaq) in contrary to a strong advice from the State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs that once the Court of Appeal had given its Judgement on the Alawo Chieftaincy Stool and Appeal still ongoing before the Supreme Court of Nigeria, they should abide with the Appeal Court Judgement until the Supreme Court says otherwise.
“However, the Appeal Court, Akure Judicial Division in Appeal N0: CA/AK/58/2021, had given its verdict on Alawo Chieftaincy Stool where Adegboye Taiwo Abdulrasaq was an appellant and also an appellant before the Supreme Court of Nigeria in SC/CV/1079/2022 and the same appellant was not ready to abide by the verdict of the Court of Records,that is Appeal Court Division and Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“It is trite in law that when a matter is before the Court of competent jurisdiction, all the parties; including, litigants and government involved, should maintain ‘Status Quo’ pending the determination of such matter but on this matter, Appeal Court had given its Judgement and the same appellant had approached the Supreme Court for final adjudication and the same appellant in collaboration with Governor Ademola Adeleke were poking fingers into the eyes of the law by resulting to self-help.
“Honourable CJN Sir, Adegboye Taiwo Abdulrasaq, because he was former Councilor in Egbedore Local Government area of Osun State, believing that he is above the law of the land and he could manipulate the law in his favour by violating the law at will.”