Beautiful, Bold & Brilliant Justice Olamide Folahanmi Oloyede of the High Court in Osogbo is currently in the eye of the storm for bring up a petition before the Osun State House of Assembly to investigate and impeach Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola on a number of allegations regarding mismanagement of the state’s economy that has led to non-payment of salaries and pensions for about eight months now.
The unwavering Osun State Justice recently tabled the petition before the legislative body seeking the impeachment of Rauf Aregbesola and his deputy Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, for alleged deliberate and criminal mismanagement of the state economy, culminating in non-payment of salaries and pensions and its resultant humanity crises according to a report by Tribune Newspaper.
The legislature also revealed however that it had requested the governor’s response to the civil and criminal allegations leveled against him and his deputy by the serving judge, a move that has heightened tension in the state, though political watchers are insisting that the legislative action is just a smokescreen to douse tension, considering the robust relationship between the executive and the legislature, which is controlled by the same political party.
Here is an excerpt of the report, according to Tribune:
“The step taken by Justice Oloyede is reverberating throughout the state, the nation and even beyond. The reasons are understandable as listed below:
1. The petitioner is a female, which is quite uncommon in Nigeria’s political landscape.
2. She is a serving judge who by the ethics of her engagement should be seen and not heard where opinions are concerned as judges’ opinions are said to be reserved for the bench.
3. She is of same Ijesa stock as the governor she is seeking his removal.
4. She is indirectly in the employment of the state where a conspiracy of executive and legislative arms could pressure the National Judicial Council (NJC) to ease her out of service.
5. The allegations she raised in the controversial petition are not only weighty but range from the civil to outright criminality.
6. If her petition succeeds in getting the governor out, she would be helping in taking her Ijesa people out of political reckoning in the state, where Aregbesola is the first Ijesa to rule.
While the jury is still out on whether her 30-page daring missive runs contrary to her judicial oath, the ethnic sentiment of her working against a fellow Ijesa and the allegation of her serving some unknown interests which are not altogether altruistic notwithstanding, she is already enjoying her heroine status in public opinion court as a true symbol of justice, fighting for the emancipation of the traumatised public servants and pensioners in the state as well as the entire citizenry which is wallowing in penury due to near-total collapse of the state’s economy.
While those in government are accusing her of serving parochial political interests with the widely-circulated petition, those applauding her as the true face of justice to humanity, alluded to the fact that with a salary of about N1.8 million monthly and about 20 more service years with prospects of career growth, she would not be taking such a risk with grave career consequences if she is not completely convinced of her convictions.
It should also be said she has a history of activism. As the Chief Registrar of Osun State Judiciary during the administration of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, she fought battles with all judges of the state High Court and at a point, got suspended. She reacted by suing everyone to court over some administrative issues bordering on financial allegations.
Prince Oyinlola was said to have waded in and forced a truce that reportedly culminated in the withdrawal of her suit and lifting of the suspension. She later became the last judge to be appointed by Oyinlola. Again, the human rights community will remember that court Chief Registrar that stood for and by them one afternoon in July 2008 as they were arrested for protesting on the premises of the state High Court. Olamide offered, in writing, to be their witness against the state and the police.
But she really did not start on a war scale with Aregbesola. She reportedly supported the governor’s failed move to impose the then Lagos High Court judge and now Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Olubunmi Oyewole as Osun State Chief Judge. The failed judicial “coup” is said to have left rough patches in the relations between Oloyede and some of her colleagues.”
