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The valedictory
service in honour of the outgoing Chief Judge of Ondo State, Gladys
Olateru Olagbegi, took place yesterday amid protest from members of the
Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Ondo State branch, who all
shunned their duty posts.

The union’s
leadership, headed by Femi Ogunode had, on Monday, instructed his
colleagues to embark on a one-day strike against what he labelled as
seven years of harsh leadership of the former chief justice.

In compliance with
the directive, the judiciary staffers were nowhere to be found near
their duty post as all the doors to the various offices were under lock
and key.

A strange object,
which was said to be a ritual, was placed at the entrance of the Akure
High Court as early as 6.30am by unknown persons.

Aside from this, the wall of the high court entrance gate was decorated with palm tree leaves and some charms.

For those who came to swear to affidavit, it was a disappointing moment as there was nobody to attend to them.

However, mobile
policemen decided to force the gate of the High Court opened to ensure
that the parade that was slated to hold in honour of the Chief Judge
took place.

The Spokesperson of
the State Command, Adeniran Aremu justified the police action, saying
policemen had no option than to break the padlock of the gate to gain
entry to the premises of the court.

Mr Aremu pointed out that the parade in honour of the out-going Chief Judge was already slated.

“We must enter the
court premises because policemen have been instructed to be at the
court for the valedictory service in honour of Mrs Gladys Olateru
Olagbegi,” he said.

The action of the
policemen was, however, loudly condemned by JUSUN leadership which
described the action as illegal and unnecessary.

Mr Ogunode said they declared a compulsory one day industrial action in order to protest against the tenure of the former CJ.

“The tenure of the
ougoing CJ does not worth praising. We have to register to our
displeasure against his tenure which was not favourable to judicial
workers,” he said. ‘Such a leader does not deserve our participation in
the send-forth ceremony organised for her. If we had never deserved her
honour, she too does not now deserve our honour”.

The JUSUN Chairman
lamented that promotions were not effected as at when due, adding that
many of the judiciary staffers suffered moral and financial losses for
24 months.

Supported by colleagues

They also accused
the former Chief Judge of unilaterally stopping payment of disturbance
allowance and deliberately jettisoning the report submitted in respect
of send- forth for members of the union who retired voluntarily.

“After the governor
approved five new Toyota Corolla Cars for Heads of Departments in the
year 2010 budget, His lordship refused to access the fund to procure
the cars as a result of hatred she has for our members who are heads of
department,” he said.

However, despite the protest, the valedictory ceremony still took place at the court premises.

The outgoing Chief Judge was joined by colleagues from Osun and Oyo to participate in the valedictory service.

Mrs
Olateru-Olagbegi, who had earlier attended a church service in her
honour, later inspected the guard of hounour mounted by men of the
state police command who dressed in red and black uniform. She oversaw
the Ondo State Judiciary as Chief Judge between 2003-2010.

The Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko has nominated Olasehinde Kumuyi as the Chief Judge
of Ondo State and his nomination has been sent to the State House of
Assembly for confirmation.