Osun Civil Society Groups Accuse Chief Judge of Forum Shopping, Petition NJC

A coalition of civil society organisations under the aegis of the Network of Civil Society Groups in Osun has accused the Chief Judge of Osun State, Hon. Justice Adepele Ojo, of alleged forum shopping and abuse of judicial discretion in a case involving the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Osun State local government funds.

In a press statement issued on Friday, the groups described the Chief Judge’s conduct as “suspicious and unacceptable,” warning that it undermines public confidence in the administration of justice.

“We state categorically that this conduct is suspicious, unacceptable, and undermines public confidence in the administration of justice. Consequently, we resolve to drag the Chief Judge before the National Judicial Council (NJC),” the group said.

The statement jointly signed by Olowu Emmanuel of Social Economic and Civil Rights Advocacy; Tobiloba Richards Agboola of the Good Governance Initiative; Raufu Sodiq Akinkunmi of Youths for Better Nigeria; Olanrewaju Stephen of the Center for Accountability and Democracy; and Janet Olayemi Gbadebo of Grassroots Watch, on behalf of the Network of Civil Society Groups in Osun.

The coalition alleged that Justice Ojo exhibited bias by importing Hon. Justice M.O. Agboola from the Ifetedo Judicial Division to the Osogbo Judicial Division to hear what they described as a “mere ex-parte application” connected to an ongoing criminal case involving UBA officials.

According to the statement, the application for judicial review was filed on January 29 and 30, 2026, by Abiodun Layonu, SAN, on behalf of UBA and other defendants standing trial before a Chief Magistrate Court in Osogbo.

The civil society groups noted that Osun State High Court has 22 judges, with six judges already assigned to the Osogbo Judicial Division.

They said, “We strongly condemn the exhibition of bias and personal interest demonstrated by the Chief Judge through the importation of Hon. Justice M.O. Agboola from the Ifetedo Judicial Division to the Osogbo Judicial Division to hear a mere ex-parte application. This action does not portray good faith and raises grave questions about the integrity of the process.

“We state that on the 29th and 30th of January, 2026, the Chief Judge acted in bad faith in the case involving Abiodun Layonu, SAN, who filed an application seeking leave for judicial review for and on behalf of UBA and other defendants in the ongoing criminal trial of UBA officials before the Chief Magistrate Court in Osogbo.

“It is on record that there are twenty-two (22) Judges in the High Court of Justice of Osun State, out of which Hon. Justice M.O. Agboola is number seventeen (17). Exercising her constitutional powers, the Chief Judge posted six (6) Judges to the Osogbo Judicial Division and voluntarily posted Hon. Justice M.O. Agboola to the Ilesha and Ifetedo Judicial Divisions. Pursuant to this posting, Justice Agboola sits in both Ilesha and Ifetedo Judicial Divisions.

“Consequently, on Friday, 30th January, 2026, His Lordship was scheduled to sit in Ifetedo Judicial Division to attend to several cases affecting the good people of Osun State.

“Specifically, Justice Agboola’s cause list in the Ifetedo Judicial Division for that day shows that he was to attend to the following eight (8) cases.

“Out of these six Judges, the first five are senior to Hon. Justice M.O. Agboola. Therefore, when the defendants filed their suit, it was only logical, reasonable, and natural to expect that the case would be assigned to one of these six Judges. Indeed, the motion paper bore “Court 4” on it, giving the clear impression that the matter had been assigned to Court 4, presided over by Hon. Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe.

“However, to our utter shock and dismay, on 30th January, 2026, Hon. Justice M.O. Agboola was imported by the Chief Judge from the Ifetedo Judicial Division where he was duty-bound to attend to eight pending cases to the Osogbo Judicial Division to hear the UBA application for judicial review.

“This was done despite the fact that none of the six Judges posted to Osogbo Judicial Division by the Chief Judge herself was considered fit to hear a mere ex-parte application.

“Why did the Chief Judge import Justice Agboola from the Ifetedo Judicial Division to sit on a mere ex-parte application in the Osogbo Judicial Division which already has six substantive Judges, thereby depriving litigants in the Ifetedo Judicial Division who share a single Judge with Ilesha of their right to have their cases heard on 30th January, 2026?

“Is the Chief Judge admitting to having a personal interest in this case, or is there an external influence dictating to her who must sit on this matter?

“It is on record that the Honourable Attorney-General of Osun State drew the attention of Justice Agboola to several applications challenging the jurisdiction of the Court, including an application alleging bias, yet these were ignored.

“Why the sudden and unusual importation of Justice Agboola to the Osogbo Judicial Division?

“We state firmly that the act of the Chief Judge in depriving litigants in the Ifetedo Judicial Division of their right to have their cases heard on 30th January, 2026, while importing Justice Agboola to Osogbo Judicial Division to determine a mere ex-parte application, is not only done in bad faith but amounts to clear misconduct.

“We therefore demand a thorough and independent investigation into this infraction. This action constitutes a clear abuse of power by the Chief Judge. Accordingly, we call on the Osun State House of Assembly, the Osun State Judicial Service Commission, and the National Judicial Council to urgently investigate this matter and take appropriate action in the interest of justice and the rule of law,” it added.