The Nigeria Bar Association, Osogbo Branch, has petitioned the state Commissioner of Police, Umar Abba, demanding the investigation and prosecution of the Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Wale Egbedun, for allegedly obstructing the execution of court judgment.
A lawyer, Muideen Adesina, had accused Egbedun of supervising assault on him while executing a court judgement in Osogbo last Friday.
Adesina, during an interview with journalists, said he had joined some police operatives and a court bailiff to execute a court order around 9:30 am at Government Technical College, Osogbo for some people to vacate a piece of land when Egbedun responding to the call by those affected by the order, came to the scene and stopped the execution of the judgement.
The legal practitioner further said while trying to explain why the order must the executed as directed by the court to the speaker, Egbedun got angry and people at the scene, as well as security aides attached to the lawmaker, assaulted him.
The lawyer said he was later taken away from the scene by an operative of the Department of State Security attached to the speaker, in a vehicle in Egbedun’s convoy, who told him he did that to save him from more beating.
But Chief Press Secretary to the speaker, Tiamiyu Olamide, while reacting to the allegations, faulted the lawyer’s claim, saying his principal did not order anyone to beat Adesina.
Tiamiyu, who said the speaker’s security aide rescued the lawyer from the mob that had descended on him, added that when Egbedun and his entourage arrived at the scene, they met Adesina and those working with him removing roofs over some people’s shops.
He further said, “The Speaker never assaulted anyone at the scene. The speaker was called this morning by some residents that some people were at their place to forcefully eject them from the land. He drove down to the scene. When he got there, he discussed with the leader of police operatives he met on the ground.
“The speaker called a senior officer who was not at the scene and handed the phone to the officer on duty at the scene. After that, the security men withdrew from the area.”
In a new twist to the matter, NBA in a letter dated July 5, 2024, demanded Egbedun’s arrest and prosecution for obstructing the execution of court judgement.
In the letter signed by chairman and secretary of the Association, Messers Yemi Abiona and Ibrahim Hassan, the NBA explained that Adesina is a counsel to 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, NBA said legal practitioners involved, rightly commenced the process of executing the said judgment.
But in the course of executing the judgement, the speaker showed up and while the lawyer was attempting to explain the situation to him, he gesticulated, raising his fingers, which Egbedun was displeased with.
The letter, a copy of which was obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday partly read, “The speaker seemed unpleased with the fact that he (Adesina) pointed at him and suddenly Hon. Egbedun became aggressive, replied saying, “you are mad for pointing your finger at me” as if that was a signal from Hon. Egbedun to his aides that our colleague be dealt with, our colleague was descended on with heavy blows and slaps under the nose of the Hon. Egbedun.
“The situation became worse and our counsel was left to battle for his life as Hon. Egbedun’s aids and trespassers took advantage of the situation and continue to physically assault our colleague and the Chief Bailiff, Kosamotu Lateef.
“Hon. 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.
“Furthermore, as a public servant and an authority, Hon. Egbedun is mandated by the provision of Section 287(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (As Amended) which he sworn to upon being elected as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly to ensure that the decision of a High Court and all other courts established by the constitution is enforced in any part of the federation contrary to Hon. Egbedun’s action of deliberate obstruction of enforcement of the judgment of a High Court of Osun State.
“Finally, the assault melted on our colleague is also criminalised under the criminal code law for which your office is mandated to investigate and the culprit brought before a competent court for prosecution. Hon. Egbedun cannot in any way be above the law and his actions on 5th July, 2024 be subjected to thorough investigation and subsequently referred to appropriate court for prosecution.”