GOV. ADELEKE IS BEING SUED FOR FIRING COMMISSION MEMBERS.

Babatunji Wusu –

The dissolution of the Statutory Commissions has landed Governor Ademola Adeleke in the National Industrial Court in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Remember that Adeleke dissolved the State Independent Electoral Commission, the Osun State Judicial Service Commission, the State Civil Service Commission, and the Osun State House of Assembly Service Commission on October 30.

In addition, after the Osun State House of Assembly screened and verified new appointees, the governor swore in new members of the statutory boards on Monday in Osogbo.

The fired board members filed a N2 billion action against Governor Adeleke through their counsel Muhydeen Adeoye Galadima, challenging their dissolution.

The terminated members claimed in four different lawsuits that they were fired before the end of their five-year term, which was supposed to finish in 2025.

They also asked the court to annul the dissolution and instruct Governor Adeleke to stop carrying out the claimed composition of the new commissions.

In one of the lawsuits, the ousted OSSIEC Chairman, Segun Oladitan, and six members asked the court to compel the governor to reinstate them to their positions and let them to finish out their five-year term, which expires in 2025.

Babafemi Osunro and four others petitioned the court to declare the dissolution of the Osun State Civil Service Commission before 2025 unlawful, demanding restoration and N500 million in damages.

Awolola Abiodun and six others contested the dissolution of the Osun House of Assembly Service Commission in their petition, while Adebayo Salmon and three others requested the court to overturn the governor’s order dismissing them from the Osun State Judicial Service Commission.

The claimants also asked the court to order the state government to pay them N500 million in damages in each complaint.

The suits also name the Governor of Osun State, the Attorney General of Osun State, the Commissioner for Finance of Osun State, and the Osun State House of Assembly as defendants.

Adeoye, the claimants’ counsel, also indicated that all parties have been served and that they are waiting for the court to set the hearing date.