Osun judiciary workers declare indefinite strike after clash with police

The Osun state chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has declared an indefinite strike with immediate effect.

Members of the union were said to have had a clash with some police officers at the entrance of the state high court at Oke-Fia, Oshogbo, the state capital, on Wednesday.

The incident happened when Oyebola Ojo, the chief judge (CJ) of Osun, made her way into the premises to resume duty in her office. 

According to The Nation, the unionists led by Gbenga Eludire, the branch chairman of JUSUN, had advanced to the office of the CJ to forcefully eject her but they were resisted.

Security operatives were said to have dispersed the union members with teargas.

After the clash, Eludire asked judiciary workers in the state to withdraw their services.

“Following the action of the police and the attitude of the Chief Judge, I, comrade Gbenga Eludire, hereby ordered that workers in the sector should withdraw their service till further notice,” he said.

Members of the union had on Monday, barricaded the entrance of the state high court in Osogbo, locking out lawyers and litigants.

Eludire said the protest was to express dissatisfaction with Ojo and how the judicial affairs in the state are being handled.

Eludire said the protest has nothing to do with the ongoing issues between the chief judge and the state government.

On Thursday, Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, suspended Ojo from office and approved the appointment of Olayinka Afolabi as the acting chief judge.

Ojo was suspended despite an order by the national industrial court restraining the governor from removing her from office.

Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Thursday had directed the swearing-in of Olayinka Afolabi as acting CJ.

However, in another statement on Sunday, Kolapo Alimi, Osun commissioner for information and civic orientation, said Adeleke did not suspend the chief judge.