Oluwo saga: Osun magistrates threaten to go on strike

7 years ago

Oluwo saga: Osun magistrates threaten to go on strike

Magistrates in Osun State have threatened to embark on strike over the refusal ?of Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeoye Fimihan, to comply with the court order directing him to arrest and bring Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, before the court.

DAILY POST recalls that a Chief Magistrate, Olusola Aluko had on December 20, 2016 issued bench warrant against the monarch who was standing trial before him.

However, failure of the police to effect the arrest of Oba Akanbi prompted the Magistrate to order the Commissioner of Police to produce him in court, tomorrow, Friday, January 6, 2017.

When the case came up on Friday, December 30, and the magistrate learnt that the monarch was not in court, he had angrily ordered that the police must produce him unfailingly.

“I am baffled that the CP is claiming ignorance of the court order. It must be a joke of the century. I am not joking with my order, my order remains my order, Aluko declared.

Also, the Oluwo had reportedly vowed never to appear before any court, saying that the order was an abuse of the traditional institution.

Meanwhile, the Association of Magistrates, in a letter dated January 4th, 2017 and addressed to the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, demanded an order from the judiciary compelling the CP to arrest Oluwo,

The letter written through the Chief Registrar to the CJ was made available to newsmen in Osogbo on Thursday.

The protest letter was signed by the chairman of the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria, Osun State branch, Ms. Falilat Sodamade; Secretary, Mr. F.I. Omisade; Mrs. A.O. Oyeniyi; Mr. J.O. Owolawi; Mr. A.O Ayilara and Mrs. A.O Ajanaku.

The letter read in part, “We therefore humbly seek Your Lordship’s attention, protection and response in the following ways: An urgent directive to the Commissioner of Police to arrest and present for prosecution the Oluwo of Iwo.

“An urgent order directing the commissioner of police to provide each magistrate with armed personal orderlies as done in other jurisdiction.”

”We humbly state that with the prevalent threat to the security of magistrates as exemplified in the events in Iwo and Osogbo, we consider our lives unsafe and may be unable to continue sitting in our various stations, which may affect us entertaining any new charge from the office of the Commissioner of Police until the commissioner of police has complied with Your Lordship’s directives”, the statement reads.