Oyinlola: Why I Opposed Justice Oyewole’s Elevation to Court of Appeal

Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has vowed to continue to protect the interest of the people of his state no matter the situation.

 He made the vow in Atlanta, Georgia, United States on Thursday while answering a question from a participant at an interactive forum with Osun State indigenes living in the United States as well as some American investors.

 The governor was asked to explain why he scuttled the elevation of Justice Olubunmi Oyewole of the Lagos judiciary to the Court of Appeal when he had been "known as a judge fighting corruption in Nigeria."

Prince Oyinlola, in his response declared that he opposed the elevation of Justice Oyewole because he was fraudulently presented to the National Judicial Service Commission as the nominee to fill the slot of Osun State by some politicians in Lagos even when he has throughout his career as a judge been serving on the Lagos judiciary.

He explained further that  attempts to smuggle Oyewole in to fill the slot of Osun State had been made twice and were detected by judges serving in Osun State, who complained to him that a judge from Lagos Judiciary was being put forward from outside the state to fill Osun State slot at the Court of Appeal.

 "I have thwarted the move twice. I have nothing personal against the judge but I will continue to oppose it as long as I live because I do not see how and why none of the judges in Osun State...and they are all very brilliant and upright judges, would be sidelined and someone who has never served Osun for one minute will take up a slot meant for Osun State.

It is true Oyewole is an indigene of Osun S tate but it is also true that he is a judge in the judiciary of Lagos State and should have been put forward to fill Lagos state slot. For some people to have gone behind me, without even the courtesy to let me know,  to say this is Osun State nominee, I think, that was a very corrupt way of getting an appointment. I have no regret whatsoever in opposing it," Oyinlola said.

The Governor, who commended indigenes of the state living in the United States for their interest in the development of their homeland, urged them to compliment is efforts to attract investment to the state especially in the agricultural, tourism and solid mineral sectors.

He added that his government was determined to make Osun the cultural and tourism destination of all black people in the whole world stressing that a Conference of Black Nationalities would take place in Osogbo in August this year to look at the past and the potential of the black man in the emerging world order.  

Source: www.thisdayonline.com

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