The Osun State chapter of the Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) has embarked on an indefinite strike over alleged maltreatment by the Hon. Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, the Osun State Chief Judge.

A source who spoke anonymously told FIJ that the workers first protested on Wednesday morning in front of the Osun State High Court of Justice before embarking on the action.

“The workers are protesting that they were maltreated under the CJ’s leadership and were not paid some allowances. However, the police came to disperse them with tear gas,” he told FIJ.

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“Also, some people who were suspended by the chief judge are clamouring to be reinstated.

“Although some people are saying it is politically motivated because people are just coming out now, the workers have lots of allegations against the CJ.”

In an audio obtained by FIJ, Oluwagbemiga Oludire, chairman of Osun JUSUN, said the union was embarking on the strike to protest against unpaid allowances and unlawful suspension.

“We want those suspended by the CJ to be reinstated with immediate effect. We also want our arrears for the payment of wardrobe allowances for the years 2022 and 2023 to be paid with immediate effect,” Oludire said.

“The training exercise at the National Judicial Institute, which has been suspended since 2015 by the CJ, should also be restored and our members sponsored for that exercise with immediate effect.

“From now on, all necessary benefits meant for all members of the judiciary should be effected without further delay.”

Oludire said that Justice Ojo had declared war on workers of the association and so they had denied her access to her office since Monday.

“The chief judge will not be allowed to gain access to her office, and that is what we have been doing since Monday, but surprisingly, they ushered her in.”

Reacting to whether it was motivated by the recent sack of the CJ by Ademola Adeleke, the Osun State Governor, he stated that the union was simply demanding the rights they had been denied.

“The suspension or the removal of the CJ is none of our concern. We are not part of the executive. We are judiciary workers and what we are doing is to demand for the rights we have been denied for more than 10 years.

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“Upon this, the attitude of the police this morning and the single act of the CJ, I hereby declare that since the CJ has declared war against all categories of judicial workers within the state, I also declare that we embark on industrial action with immediate effect.

“From now on, all workers of the judiciary should stay away from the office and hold their service until further directive is given.”