The Osogbo branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has pushed back against a demand by Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for the National Judicial Council (NJC) to probe Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe over his ruling on the local government crisis in Osun State.
Oyintiloye had, in a statement on Monday, called for Justice Aderibigbe to be investigated and sanctioned for declaring vacancies in the state’s local government areas, a ruling that paved the way for elections conducted by the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) on February 22, 2025.
However, Osogbo NBA Chairman, Yemi Abiona, in an interview, dismissed the demand, arguing that Justice Aderibigbe had not committed any misconduct warranting NJC intervention.
On February 21, 2025, Justice Aderibigbe ruled that OSSIEC could conduct local government elections, citing vacancies in all 30 local government areas (LGAs). However, Oyintiloye, a former Osun State lawmaker, claimed the ruling contradicted an earlier Court of Appeal verdict, which reinstated APC-elected chairmen and councillors removed in October 2022.
He also referenced an advisory from the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), issued on February 20, cautioning Governor Ademola Adeleke against proceeding with the elections.
Oyintiloye further questioned the legal basis of the ruling, arguing that it was not properly served on all affected parties and did not follow due judicial processes.
Defending Justice Aderibigbe, NBA Chairman Abiona stated that the ruling followed legal procedures and that dissatisfied parties should seek redress through an appeal rather than calling for a probe.
“If anyone is dissatisfied with the ruling, they have the right to appeal to the Court of Appeal or ask the same court to set aside its order if obtained fraudulently. I see no misconduct in this process,” Abiona asserted.
