The crisis rocking the Osun State Polytechnic Iree (OSPOLY), has taken a new twist, as Justice Opeloye Ogunbowale of the National Industrial Court in Lagos has restrained Governor Ademola Adeleke and 14 others from appointing a new Rector for the institution.
Justice Ogunbowale made the order after entertaining an expert motion filed by the suspended Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Tajudeen Odetayo, to challenge the illegality of his removal.
The judge, in his ruling, ordered that Governor Adeleke and other respondents stay further action on the institution pending hearing and determination of the motion on notice filed by Odetayo.
The court also ordered that a hearing notice be issued on all respondents in the suit so that they can appear at the next adjourned date.
Other respondents in the suit marked no NICN/OS/37/2023 are the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ministry of Education, OSPOLY and the Governing Council of OSPOLY.
The respondents include, Chief of Staff to Osun State governor, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye, Alabi Adeyemi, Mohammed Jimoh,
Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Education, Chairman, Investigative Panel of Enquiry into allegations of Corrupt Practices against the Rector, OSPOLY.
Mrs O. Abioye, Acting Bursar of OSPOLY and member of the Investigative Panel; S. A. Afolabi, acting Registrar, OSPOLY and Secretary of the panel; Abiodun Oloyede and Mrs T. A. Samuel.
Odetayo had prayed the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents, their servants, privies, employees or howsoever described from giving effects to the letter of suspension dated July 11, 2023 and letter of query dated August 1, 2023 issued to the applicant herein or in any way interfering with the applicant’s position as the Rector of Osun State Polytechnic, pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice for interlocutory injunction before this court.
Odetayo also asked the court to grant the applications in the interest of justice and that of the public.
In his ruling, Justice Ogunbowale held that there is evidence before him that the respondents have been served with the motion on notice, as a proof of service was filed by a Court Bailiff, Hamed Saheed.
The judge, therefore directed that, “a hearing notice to be served on all respondents, an order of interim injunction restraining the respondents from taking any further action on the matter or anything relating to it until the determination of the Motion On Notice is at this moment granted.”
