The leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association Osogbo branch has petitioned the Police Commissioner of the Osun Command, urging an investigation into Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Wale Egbedun, for alleged criminal acts and obstructing the execution of a court judgment.
According to the petition, the speaker is accused of impeding the execution of a court judgment and supervising an assault on lawyer Yusuf Adesina and a court bailiff by his aide. The speaker has denied these allegations.
The NBA’s petition, dated July 5, 2024, and referenced as NBA/OS/CP/2024/002, was signed by its Chairman, Yemi Abiona, and Secretary, Ibrahim Hassan. The petition claims that the speaker’s actions amounted to perverting court judgment.
The petition states: “Our said colleague, Muideen Yusuf is one of the Counsels for the Gbaemu Royal family of Osogbo and the Plaintiff/Judgment Creditor in Suit NO: HOS/92/2021 PRINCE OLALEKAN SALAMI V.s THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR, OSUN STATE & ORS, in which judgment was delivered in 2022. Consequent upon the said judgment and the refusal of the judgment debtors including the Governor of Osun State and others to deliver peaceful possession of the piece of land which was the subject of litigation, our colleagues rightly commenced the process of executing the said judgment. Approval was thereafter given by the appropriate Court officials after which police protection was sought and granted by your humble self.”
The petition further alleges: “Mr Egbedun’s action of deliberate obstruction of execution of the valid judgment of the Court of competent jurisdiction can be likened to the situation of waging war against the judicial arm of the state and waging war against the state which is criminalised under Section 37 (2) of the Criminal Code, Cap 2, Laws of Osun State. It is an act of abuse of office contrary to the provision of Section 104 of the Criminal Code.”
It also highlights the assault on the lawyer, stating: “The assault on our colleague is also criminalised under the criminal code law for which your office is mandated to investigate and any culprit brought before a competent court for prosecution. Mr Egbedun cannot in any way be above the law and his actions on July 5, 2024, be subjected to thorough investigation and subsequently refer to the appropriate court for prosecution.”
The NBA has called for a thorough investigation into the actions of the Speaker and his subsequent prosecution if found culpable.