The Judicial Service Commission is one of the statutory Commissions in the State, which by virtue of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria replaced the State Judicial Service Committee.
The Nigerian Constitution establishes the Commission with powers to:
- Advise the National Judicial Council on suitable persons for nomination to the office of the Chief Judge, and Judges of the High Court of the State among others.
- subject to the provisions of the Constitution, of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to recommend to the National Judicial Council, the removal from office of Judicial officers specified in the Constitution.
- to appoint, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over the Chief Registrar of the High Court, Magistrates, Judges and members of Customary Courts and all other members of the staff of the Judicial Service of the State.
The Osun State Judicial Service Commission handles all matters of appointment, promotion and discipline of judicial officers and judicial employees in Osun State.
The Osun State Judicial Service Commission is located in the premises of the State High Court, opposite Government House, along Osogbo/Ilobu road, Osogbo.
In accordance with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the Osun State Judicial Service Commission comprises the State Chief Judge as the Chairman, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice as a member, two lawyers and two non-lawyers as members.
When the current administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola came on board in year 2003, the Commission was dissolved and reconstituted as follows:
- Hon. Justice F.O.Ogunsola. - Chairman,Chief Judge.
- Barrister Gbadegesin Adedeji. - Member,Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
- Barrister Toye Bamiduro. - Member.
- Barrister G.A. Adesina. - Member.
- Chief A.A. Oni. - Member.
- Mr. Adebisi Adefisan. - Member.
The Secretary to the Commission is Mrs.O.I.Oderinde, a career officer and its accounting officer. Listed below are persons who had served the Commission in this capacity.
- Mr. J.L. Oyedeji.
- Mr. S.O. Oni. (Acting)
The activities of the Commission among others include the following:
- APPOINTMENT.
- Chief Judge.
The Commission initiated the process for the appointment of two Chief Judges, namely:
- Hon. Justice Olatunde Oluborode. 2001.
- Hon. Justice Fasasi Olaniyi Ogunsola.
- High Court judges. The Commission nominated two batches of High Court Judges. The first set, which was in year 2000,consisted of the following:
- Hon. Justice T.O. Awotoye.
- Hon. Justice G.E. Oladoke.
- Hon. Justice A.O.Ojo.
The second batch in year 2003 comprised the following:
- Hon. Justice F.E. Awolalu.
- Hon. Justice W.O. Akanbi.
- Hon. Justice A. O. Ogunlade.
In year 2003, the Commission appointed Mr. J.O.Ogunleye, who is the current Chief Registrar of the State Judiciary.
In December 2000, twelve (12) Magistrates were employed, while eight (8) others were employed in December 2001. At present, there are twenty – six (26) Magistrates in the Judicial Service of the State.
Prior to May 2004, there were ninety – one (91) Customary Courts in Osun State. However in May 2004, twelve additional Customary Courts were created. This brought the total of Customary Courts in the State to one hundred and three (103). The location of the Courts are as stated in the table below.
s/n |
Local Government |
Location of Court |
Total Numbers of Court |
1 |
Ayedaade |
Iperindo.
Ipole.
Ajido.
Amuye.
Iwara. |
5 |
2 |
Ayedire |
Osu.
Ibodi.
Ifewara.
Oke Bode.
Itagunmodi.
Epe. |
6 |
3 |
Atakunmosa East |
Gbongan.
Ode-Omu.
Orile Owu.
Wakajaye.
Tonkere.
|
5 |
4 |
Atakunmosa West |
Ile – Ogbo.
Oluponna.
Kuta.
|
3 |
5 |
Boluwaduro |
Iragbiji. I.
Iragbiji II.
Iree.
|
3 |
6 |
Boripe |
Otan-Ayegbaju.
Iresi.
Igbajo
Eripa.
|
4 |
7 |
Ede North |
Oja Timi.
Abere.
Owode.
|
3 |
8 |
Ede South |
Sekona.
Alajue.
Olodan
|
3 |
9 |
Egbedore |
Awo
Ido – Osun.
Ara.
Iragberi.
|
4 |
10 |
Ejigbo |
Ejigbo I.
Ejigbo II.
Ejigbo III
Irepodun (Isoko).
|
4 |
11 |
Ife Central |
Ile – Ife I.
Ile – Ife II.
|
2 |
12 |
Ife East |
Enuwa I.
Enuwa II
Modakeke.
|
3 |
13 |
Ife North |
Ipetumodu.
Edunabon.
|
2 |
14 |
Ife South |
Ifetedo.
Olode.
Mefoworade.
|
3 |
15 |
Ifedayo |
Oke – Ila.
Ora.
|
2 |
16 |
Ifelodun |
Ikirun I
Ikirun II
Obaagun.
|
3 |
17 |
Ila |
Ila. |
1 |
18 |
Ilesa East |
Ogburu.
Irojo.
Imo.
|
3 |
19 |
Ilesa West |
Ilesa I
Ilesa II.
|
2 |
20 |
Irepodun |
Oloola.(Ilobu)
Local Govt. Qrts. (Ilobu)
Anwo. (Ilobu)
Erin Osun.
|
4 |
21 |
Irewole |
Oja Ale
Fatima College Area.
Olorisa – Oko.
|
3 |
22 |
Isokan |
Apomu.
Ikoyi.
|
2 |
23 |
Iwo |
Iwo I.
Iwo II.
Feesu.
Kajola.
|
4 |
24 |
Obokun |
Ibokun.
Ilase.
Esa – Oke.
Imesi – Ile
|
4 |
25 |
Odo Otin |
Okuku.
Inisa.
Oyan.
Igbaye.
Ekosin.
|
5 |
26 |
Ola Oluwa |
Bode – Osi.
Ogbaagba
|
2 |
27 |
Olorunda |
Atelewo (Osogbo)
Igbonna (Osogbo)
Oba.
Illie.
|
4 |
28 |
Oriade |
Ijebu – Jesa.
Erinmo - Ijesa.
Erin – Ijesa.
Erin – Oke.
Ipetu – Ijesa.
Ikeji – Ile.
Ikeji – Arakeji.
|
7 |
29 |
Orolu |
Ifon – Osun. |
1 |
30 |
Osogbo |
Osogbo I
Osogbo II
Osogbo III
Osogbo IV
|
4 |
Following the approval of His Excellency, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Governor of Osun State, the State Judicial Service Commission commenced the process of appointing Judicial employees as supporting staff for Customary Courts, which hitherto had been manned by Local Government Service Commission Staff.
The Judicial Service Commission, in line with the State Government, policies and regulations on staff promotion and advancement, effect the promotion and advancement of staff of the State Judicial Service Commission and the Judiciary.
Apart from the regular disciplinary actions taken by various heads of departments in the judiciary, serious disciplinary matters are reported to the Commission and are treated as appropriate.
Petitions and complaints are also handled and treated by the Commission in line with relevant Government circulars, rules and regulations.
The Judicial Service Commission has a staff of eighteen (18).
The Commission is fully funded by the Osun State Government. As such all fees and fines collected from Customary Courts in the State as well as other revenues generated by the Commission, are remitted to the State Government and form part of the Internally Generated Revenue of the State Government.
The major projects in the offing for the State Judicial Service Commission, is the preparation and production of a standard scheme of service for the State Judicial Service as it obtains in the State Civil Service and the production of the National Judicial Council’s approved Code of Conduct for Court employees in the State.
Other aspirations of the Commission include the following:
1. to have an efficient , effective and formidable work force in the Judicial Service of the State.
2. to improve staff productivity through regular training.
3. to properly monitor fees and fines from Customary Courts in the State to boost the Internally Generated Revenue of the State Government.
4. to ensure quick dispensation of justice in all Customary Courts in the State through regular supervision.
5. to ensure discipline and probity in the judicial service of Osun State.
s/n |
Names |
Position |
1 |
Hon. Justice F.O.Ogunsola. |
Hon. Chief Judge and Chairman of the Commission. |
2 |
Barrister Gbadegesin Adedeji. |
Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. Member. |
3 |
Barrister Toye Bamiduro. |
Member. |
4 |
Barrister G.A. Adesina |
Member |
5 |
Chief A.A. Oni. |
Member |
6 |
Mr. Adebisi Adefisan |
Member |
7 |
Mrs. O.I.Oderinde |
Secretary to Commission.
|
