InsideOjodu recalls that Baba Ijesha was arrested in March after he was caught on camera attempting to defile the foster daughter of comedienne, Princess.

In a video shared online, Princess alleged that he had initially raped her foster daughter when she was seven and then also attempted to sexually assault her again recently.

But on Wednesday, Nollywood actor Yomi Fabiyi had staged a protest in front of the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department over the detention of his colleague, which he described as “illegal.”

Addressing the Nollywood actor, the Commissioner said Baba Ijesha has been held in custody based on legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in the state Ministry of Justice and after a prima facie case had been established against him.

He also revealed that Baba Ijesha’s continuous detention will be reviewed if the JUSUN strike continues indefinitely.

Recall that the strike which will be one month old tomorrow began on Tuesday, April 6, when the union directed all its members across the federation to shut down all courts after the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum earlier given over the failure of the government to implement the law.

The Deputy President of the workers’ union, Emmanuel Abioye, in a telephone interview with NAN, on Wednesday, stated that the governors must do the needful before the strike would be suspended.

“This strike has generated a lot of public interest. As a matter of fact, some other associations have shown interest.

“The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has shown interest, and there is no way we can do anything without working in synergy with the NBA.

“The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has signified interested as well and there is nothing we can do now without a synergy with the NLC.

“So it is already in the public domain, even people are calling us to say that if we should suspend the strike without achieving tangible result, we have disappointed them, how much more our members.

“So without achieving our aim, if the promise that had been made by the governors failed, it will be unreasonable for us to go back.

“This demand is a provision of the law and democracy can only strive when there is rule of law. So everyone must follow the rule of law.

“People that are saddled with the responsibility must do the needful before we can suspend the strike,” Abioye said.

The Judicial workers have fully resumed duty   following a directive by the Administrative Department of the Lagos State Judiciary, The Nation reports.

However, the courts are yet to commence sitting even though all departments of the state judiciary have opened.

More to follow…

The CJN, however said it had become difficult to fault the idea of the strike since the rights of the union and its members which had been clearly defined in the constitution were being denied especially at state levels.

“I can’t fault your reasons for embarking on this protest because the union wants its rights restored in line with the provisions of the constitution. I commend you for following due process so far to protest against the injustice,” he said.

The CJN stated this during a meeting he had with JUSUN national leaders in Abuja on Wednesday.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the CJN, Ahuraka Isah, the meeting was to give the CJN feedback on his recent demand on the union to call off the ongoing strike.

The CJN had, at an earlier meeting with JUSUN leaders on April 6, asked the union to call off the strike in view of its adverse effect on the justice system in the country.

But during the meeting on Wednesday, 22, JUSUN maintained its position on why it would not suspend the strike action.

The group said the action would only be suspended if state governors begin to demonstrate some level of seriousness by putting in place some measures precedent to the implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary in their respective states.

JUSUN Lagos Chairman, Asiwaju Shobowale Kehinde, confirmed their axillary demands are being speedily looked into and results manifesting.

He said they had many interactions on the industrial action with State chairmen especially from the southwest, Southeast and south south regions.

He noted it was only Lagos State Government that has shown concerns with the JUSUN struggle.

Shobowale said judicial workers in Lagos have resolved to be on strike on Mondays and Tuesdays and open the courts between Wednesdays and Fridays.

The state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, disclosed this on Twitter after a meeting with members of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos chapter and Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria on Tuesday.

The meeting was to dialogue on the ongoing strike action by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria which has shut down courts across the country.

“I met with the representatives of the NBA branches in Lagos State today who came to dialogue with us on the ongoing strike action by judicial workers over financial autonomy for the Judiciary.

“Our administration fully supports financial autonomy and it is important to state that Lagos State has implemented and is in compliance with this.

“Lagos has always been at the forefront in Nigeria on matters of welfare and remuneration of judicial officers, reforms and working conditions.

“Our commitment to full financial autonomy to the judiciary is strong and I assured the NBA leadership that I will work with other Governors to resolve the issues that led to the strike,” the tweet reads.

The meeting is holding at the Government House, Marina.

The bar leaders were from Lagos, Epe, Ikorodu and Badagry.

Recall that the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Kayode Fayemi, had on Monday, said the state governors and other stakeholders had reached an agreement on the implementation of financial autonomy for state legislature and judiciary.

Although he did not disclose the details of the agreement reached, he assured the nation that the implementation would start in May.

Although he did not disclose the details of the agreement reached, he assured the nation that the implementation would start in May.

Fayemi disclosed this in an interview with State House correspondents after a meeting of the technical committee on the matter chaired by the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The governor then appealed to the striking judiciary workers to return to work in the interest of the nation.

However, the National Treasurer of JUSUN, Jimoh Musa said the union had not met with the governors.

He said, “I know they invited some Chief Judges and met with them, but they have not come to the table to discuss with us. We have never met with them, we don’t know their faces. So are mischievous and I am surprised that leaders that we are supposed to emulate will come, saying things that are not right. We are meeting again tomorrow (Tuesday) with the Minister of Labour and I have been told that they are sending a representative, maybe the DG of the Nigerian Governors Forum. But until this moment, we have not met with them, even for one day. They have never called us as JUSUN to discuss with us. Let’s us sit down and discuss this thing, it is a constitutional matter and we can resolve this thing.”

This threat contained in a circular obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, dated April 16 and signed by the Deputy Secretary of the Union, Mr P. Nnamani.

NAN reports that JUSUN on April 6, commenced a nationwide industrial action, calling for implementation of financial autonomy for the judiciary. While restating that the strike would continue following failure by government to meet its demands, the union urged its members to remain resolute in spite of pressures.

The circular read in part: “Further be informed that following an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of JUSUN on the April 15, 2021.

“it is agreed that the union will organise a peaceful protest in the Federal Capital, which will  be replicated in the 36 state Capitals in furtherance of our agitations, from April 19, 2021.

“Please note that if in case there are any invitations for negotiations/talks, you should promptly inform the National Headquarters for guidelines and representations to avoid disorder in presentation of facts.”

The court was shut against judges, magistrates and litigants in compliance with the directive of the national secretariat of the JUSUN.

Part of their demands is judicial autonomy, which led to  JUSUN declaring an indefinite nationwide strike on Thursday.

Recall that on March 13, 2021, the union held a national executive meeting, where its issued a 21-day ultimatum to the government to meets it demands.

Meanwhile, the union in circular dated April 1, 2021 told its members to shut down courts across the country from Tuesday, April 6.

“Therefore, as a result of the public holiday on April 5, 2021, the strike action has been postponed to Tuesday, April 6, 2021. You are directed to shut down courts/departments in your states until further notice from the National Secretariat of JUSUN in Abuja,” the circular issued by the General Secretary of JUSUN, Isaiah Adetola, partly read.