A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jubril Okutepa, has challenged any lawyer to produce evidence from the Court of Appeal judgment that reinstated the sacked local government chairmen in Osun State.
Speaking on Arise TV’s News Night on Tuesday, Okutepa insisted that there was no court order mandating the reinstatement of the former council bosses, contrary to claims by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He maintained that politicians were misinterpreting the judgment for their own interests, stressing that no legal backing exists for their return to office.
Chief Okutepa explained that the Federal High Court had nullified the council election conducted by the administration of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, declaring it illegal and of no effect.
According to him, when the APC and APM challenged the ruling, the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal for lack of diligent prosecution.
By implication, he argued, the judgment of the Federal High Court remains valid, and there was never an order for the sacked chairmen to be reinstated.
According to the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the Osogbo High Court’s directive for the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to conduct fresh local government elections was in line with a Supreme Court ruling that outlawed caretaker committees at the local government level.
He dismissed allegations that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration cherry-picked court judgments, asserting that the state government merely followed constitutional provisions that mandate democratically elected councils.
Urging politicians to abide by the rule of law, Okutepa warned against misrepresenting court rulings for political gains.
“No one can wake up and choose not to respect a court judgment. Until set aside , a court order remains valid and binding,” he said.
He called on legal practitioners and the public to read the court’s decision thoroughly before making assertions, challenging anyone to point out where the reinstatement of the sacked chairmen was ordered.
bo High Court’s directive for the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to conduct fresh local government elections was in line with a Supreme Court ruling that outlawed caretaker committees at the local government level.
He dismissed allegations that Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration cherry-picked court judgments, asserting that the state government merely followed constitutional provisions that mandate democratically elected councils.
Urging politicians to abide by the rule of law, Okutepa warned against misrepresenting court rulings for political gains.
“No one can wake up and choose not to respect a court judgment. Until set aside, a court order remains valid and binding,” he said.
He called on legal practitioners and the public to read the court’s decision thoroughly before making assertions, challenging anyone to point out where the reinstatement of the sacked chairmen was ordered.
