Police teargas protesters, shield Osun CJ from mob
Police operatives, on Wednesday, dispersed protesting members of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria, Osun State branch, as the Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, resumed her office.
The state governor had last week announced the suspension of the Chief Judge, saying it was carrying out the recommendation of the state House of Assembly.
The government had, however, come under heavy backlash, making it backtrack on its plan to appoint an acting Chief Judge.
The judiciary workers, who are accusing the Chief Judge of abuse of office, had since Monday started a protest, picketing the state high court and the office of the Chief Judge, thereby paralysing the justice sector.
The protest entered day three on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, when the Chief Judge arrived at the court, police operatives stationed at the entrance of the court opened the gate for her
Before her arrival, some judges had earlier arrived on the premises, apparently to prepare for the meeting earlier planned over the demands of the protesting workers.
Displeased by the action of the police, who opened the gates for the CJ, the leaders of JUSUN, who were already somewhere within the court premises, rushed to the gate and threatened to stop the judge from going into her office.
But Divisional Police Officer at Dugbe Division, Osogbo, Akinloye Oyegade, who led the policemen, warned the protesters against attempting to stop Justice Ojo from entering her office.
However, tension rose, as the workers led by the JUSUN chairman, Mr Gbenga Eludire, insisted that the CJ would not have been allowed into the premises.
But Oyegade, who warned the protesters against going to where the CJ’s vehicle was parked, suddenly signaled his men to disperse the protesters.
Journalists and protesting JUSUN members were eventually dispersed by the police with teargas and were forced out of the court premises.
Speaking to journalists after the incident, Eludire, who condemned the police for descending on the protesters, said all the demands of the union must be met before industrial harmony would be guaranteed in the court.
He subsequently declared an indefinite industrial action.
Thank God no death
I love this site
But are we doing in this country even the citizens are being treated like nothing
God help us
God should should help us
That’s not good
Wonder shall never end