Magistrates in the Osun State Judiciary have said they may boycott sittings in all Magistrates Courts across the state due to the alleged threats to their lives and the refusal of the Commissioner of Police in the state to arrest and bring the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, before the court.
The magistrates, under the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria, Osun State branch said this in a letter dated January 4th, 2017 and addressed to the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo.
A source within the judiciary made a copy of the letter written through the Chief Registrar to the CJ available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Thursday.
The protest letter was signed by the chairman of the Magistrates’ Association of Nigeria, Osun State branch, Ms. F.A 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:
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“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 Oluwo Oke of Iwo Oke, Oba Kadiri Adeoye, had instituted a case against Oba Akanbi before the court but the Oluwo has refused to appear before the Magistrates’ Court presided over by Mr. Olusola Aluko.
Aluko had on December 2 threatened to issue a bench warrant against the Oluwo if he failed to appear before him on December 20th but the monarch spurned the threat. The magistrate then issued a bench warrant against the monarch on Decemebr 20 but the monarch said he would not appear before the magistrate.
Aluko also issued a fresh bench warrant against the monarch on Wednesday for contempt of court but the monarch still did not appear.
The magistrate later gave an order directing the CP to arrest and produce Oluwo in court on Friday ( tomorrow). It is not likely that the CP has arrested the monarch.
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