A coalition of civil society organizations in Osun State, has accused the Chief Judge of Osun State, Hon. Justice Adepele Ojo, of high handedness in the handling of a case involving the United Bank for Africa (UBA) over the multi-billion naira local government funds in Osun state.
The CSOs under the umbrella body of the Network of Civil Society Groups in Osun, specifically accused the Chief Judge of “forum shopping” in assigning the case in order to accord undue favor to a party in the legal suit.
In a statement issued in Osogbo on Friday, February 06, 2026, and made available to newsmen, the CSOs accused the CJ of “importing” Hon. Justice M.O. Agboola from the Ifetedo Judicial Division to the Osogbo Judicial Division to hear an ex-parte application when there were six substantive judges at the Osogbo Judicial Division who should have presided over the matter.
The statement was signed by the Olowu Emmanuel (Social Economic and Civil Rights Advocacy), Tobiloba Richards Agboola (Good Governance Initiative, GGI), Raufu Sodiq Akinkunmi (Youths for Better Nigeria), Olanrewaju Stephen, (Center for Accountability & Democracy), and Janet Olayemi Gbadebo (Grassroots Watch).
According to the coalition, 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.
The Network of Civil Society Groups condemned the alleged move by the CJ, calling it an exhibition of bias. It wondered whether the CJ has a personal interest in the case, or is being influenced by external factors. This, the groups said portray bad faith and raises grave questions about the integrity of the process.
While expressing concern that the action deprives litigants in the Ifetedo Judicial Division of their right to have their cases heard due to the absence of Justice Agboola, the CSOs stated that this constitutes a clear abuse of power and therefore demanded a thorough and independent investigation into the alleged infraction.
Statement Below:
PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE NETWORK OF CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS IN OSUN ON THE ALLEGATION OF FORUM SHOPPING CONDUCT OF THE CHIEF JUDGE OF OSUN STATE, HON. JUSTICE ADEPELE OJO, TODAY, FRIDAY, 6TH FEBRUARY, 2026
We, the Network of Civil Society Groups in Osun, hereby raise serious concerns and formally accuse the Chief Judge of Osun State, Hon. Justice Adepele Ojo, of forum shopping in her handling and assignment of a case involving the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and the multi-billion naira local government funds of Osun State.
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).
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:
(i) HFT/4/2025: Monday Akomedaye & Ors vs Prince Adegoke Adeyemi & Ors;
(ii) HFT/7/2025: Titus Abiodun & Ors vs Peter Ani & Ors;
(iii) HFT/8/2025: Dr. Matthew Odukunle vs Chief Akin Obalolu;
(iv) HFT/12/2025: Prince Adegoke Adeyemi & Ors vs Monday Akponmedaye;
(v) HFT/5/2025: Chief Kazeem Adeboye & Ors vs Mr. Kola Ogunsakin & Ors;
(vi) HFT/M.8/2025: Pastor Adegoke Folorunso Benjamin & Ors vs Mr. Adewunmi Ademiluyi Okero;
(vii) HFT/11/2025: Adegoke Adebisi Taiwo vs Mr. Segun Alamu & Ors; and
(viii) HFT/9/2024: Adeloye Azeez Ologbenla & Ors vs Adeyemi Badmus Aderibigbe.
We further state that the six (6) Judges assigned to the Osogbo Judicial Division were equally expected to sit in Osogbo on 30th January, 2026.
These Judges are:
Hon. Justice Adepele Ojo – Court 1;
Hon. Justice O.D. Afolabi – Court 2;
Hon. Justice Onibokun – Court 3;
Hon. Justice Adeyinka Aderibigbe – Court 4;
Hon. Justice Ayo Oyebiyi – Court 5; and
Hon. Justice Ayo Awe – Court 6.
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.
We therefore ask the following critical questions:
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?
Is this assignment beyond the competence of the six Judges in Osogbo, or is it simply an act of compromise?
The inability of the Chief Judge to find any Judge in Osogbo Judicial Division worthy of determining an ordinary ex-parte application only confirms the fears earlier expressed by His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, that the rich are purchasing justice, and by Professor Chidi Odinkalu that abnormality has become the norm in the temple of justice.
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.
Signed:
Olowu Emmanuel (Social Economic and Civil Rights Advocacy)
Tobiloba Richards Agboola (Good Governance Initiative, GGI)
Raufu Sodiq Akinkunmi (Success) (Youths for Better Nigeria)
Olanrewaju Stephen (Center for Accountability & Democracy)
Janet Olayemi Gbadebo (Grassroots Watch)
For: Network of Civil Society Groups in Osun