Femi Makinde, Osogbo

An Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa has said the changing of ‘Osun State’ to ‘State of Osun’ by the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola is illegal.

Justice Yinka Afolabi, while delivering the judgment on Thursday in a case instituted by Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Ilesa branch, Mr. Kanmi Ajibola, challenging the legality of the “State of Osun Land Use Charge Law,” held that the law and its makers were unknown to the 1999 Constitution.

Aregbesola had changed the name of the state from ‘Osun State’ to ‘State of Osun’ in 2011; but the NBA chairman, who is a human rights activist, approached the court in 2016 and asked the court to declare as null and void all transactions done by the state with the name ‘State of Osun.’

Afolabi also declared that the makers of the law, who are currently serving as members of the State House of Assembly, were not sworn in as members of the ‘State of Osun House of Assembly,’ but as members of ‘Osun State House of Assembly,’ going by the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution.

He said, “The executive governor of the state changed the name in 2011. The renaming of a state goes further and deeper for anyone to single-handedly do.

“To re-order the name of Osun State as “State of Osun” is hereby declared as illegal, null and void.

“On the oath of allegiance, I state that the Seventh Schedule is part of the law. It is not a mere draft or a mere oath. It does not give room for any alteration.

“After deposing to an oath of office, you cannot turn around to do otherwise,” Justice Afolabi stated.

The plaintiff had sought an order setting aside the “State of Osun Land Use Charge Law, 2016,” having been enacted by the legislative body that is not known to the Constitution and for the state not known to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). It is not enforceable in Osun State.

Among other reliefs sought, the plaintiff also also prayed for “a declaration that Osun State Government, having been delegated with the power to collect Land use charge revenue by the provisions of sections 2(2) and (3) of the “State of Osun Land use charge Law, 2016,” sections 4(1), 8(2), 10(1) & (5), 16(c)(i) & (ii), 17, 18, 21(3) and 22 of the “State of Osun Land use charge Law, 2016,” are not operable without appointing the Commissioner of Finance in Osun State.

Justice Afolabi threw out all the arguments by the State Attorney-General, Dr. Basiru Ajibola, who was the counsel for the governor and the state government and that of the Director of Legal Services, Mrs. Rachel Ojinni, as he granted all the seven prayers of the plaintiff.

Ajibola said the state government would appeal the verdict at the Court of Appeal

http://punchng.com/the-name-state-of-osun-is-illegal-court-declares/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Appeal!?
It is glaringly clear that any appeal will fail.
The governor messed up big time.

If Name Is The Problem Here, Let Me Help H. E Govnr Arigbe To Rename And Rebrand It To Be Known, Called And Addressed As "State Of Skull Miners" Lol

MikeBetty:
If Name Is The Problem Here, Let Me Help H. E Govnr Arigbe To Rename And Rebrand It To Be Known, Called And Addressed As "State Of Skull Miners" Lol

Not funny

Hmm... The battle between the bar and the bench, who is superior?

Our govt should please heed to the yearnings of people for the sake of democracy to seperate Ag from being an appointment post.

And last time i checked, Ag's decision on any matter in a state must be respected by the court, our constitution without giving room for a case like this.

∆ ∆

MikeBetty:
If Name Is The Problem Here, Let Me Help H. E Govnr Arigbe To Rename And Rebrand It To Be Known, Called And Addressed As "State Of Skull Miners" Lol

Hahahahaha.

MikeBetty:
If Name Is The Problem Here, Let Me Help H. E Govnr Arigbe To Rename And Rebrand It To Be Known, Called And Addressed As "State Of Skull Miners" Lol

At the entrance of the state “ Welcome to the state of osun, we are not responsible for the loss of your skull”

I told someone that this state of osun thingy was nonsense. Out of all the pressing issues in osun state the only thing ogbeni thought wise was to rename the state justifying it with the argument that in America states are referred to as such eg state of California etc. Are we Americans? Or do we speak American English?
Please someone should tell ogbeni that in Nigeria state is s 'suffix' not a 'prefix'.

Another aberration of the #Recessionists corrected

One cold Hero for the fearless judge.

N'afam, n'ego ya! lol

Ezenwammadu:


At the entrance of the state “ Welcome to the state of osun, we are not responsible for the loss of your skull”

MikeBetty:
If Name Is The Problem Here, Let Me Help H. E Govnr Arigbe To Rename And Rebrand It To Be Known, Called And Addressed As "State Of Skull Miners" Lol

I bet the Mods will move this to the front page regardless of these diabolical Tribalistic comments.

Kolomental governor. Ela oju kan

State of Osun will be appropriate in true federalism. I thought those who are shouting restructuring will support the governor on this.

Useless APC government and illegalities...

Same in Lagos with the concept of LCDAs

MikeBetty:
If Name Is The Problem Here, Let Me Help H. E Govnr Arigbe To Rename And Rebrand It To Be Known, Called And Addressed As "State Of Skull Miners" Lol

You are so stupid for that comment, is it by force to comment? Or must you attach tribalism to any thing related to yoruba??



I know this will happen at one point in time, The state Government should not waste it time in appealing the judgment

Biggty:
You are so stupid for that comment, is it by force to comment? Or must you attach tribalism to any thing related to yoruba??



I know this will happen at one point in time, The state Government should not waste it time in appealing the judgment

E Pain Am Wela

State of OSUN.........

MikeBetty:
E Pain Am Wela

Ode

[quote author=Nutase post=63285426]I told someone that this state of osun thingy was nonsense. Out of all the pressing issues in osun state the only thing ogbeni thought wise was to rename the state justifying it with the argument that in America states are referred to as such eg state of California etc. Are we Americans? Or do we speak American English?
Please someone should tell ogbeni that in Nigeria state is s 'suffix' not a 'prefix'.
G

Impunity of Ogbeni