The leadership of the Nigeria Bar Association, NBA Osogbo branch, yesterday, petitioned the Police Commissioner, Osun Command, urging him to investigate the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr Wale Egbedun for alleged criminal act and obstructing execution of court judgement.
The speaker was allegedly said to have impeded the execution of a court judgement and supervised assault on a lawyer, Yusuf Adesina and a court bailiff by his aide, an allegation the speaker has refuted.
However, the NBA, in a petition, dated July 5, 2024, referenced NBA/OS/CP/2024/002, by its Chairman and Secretary, Yemi Abiona and Ibrahim Hassan respectively, disclosed that the action of the speaker by obstructing execution of a court judgement amounted to perverting court judgement.
The petition reads: “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.
“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.
“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.”
