Former Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Ogundeji Iroju, has accused the government of intimidating the judiciary to get favourable judgment.
Iroju said the garnishee order he secured against the government for his judgment debt to be paid was struck out due to government’s interference.
Justice Adetan Osadebey, in January, ordered the reinstatement of Iroju as Deputy Speaker and payment of N10 million as damages. He also directed that all his entitlements be paid.
Iroju however filed a garnishee order against the government’s account, through his lawyer, Wale Omotosho, due to the government’s refusal to pay him.
But Justice David Kolawole again struck out the garnishee order yesterday.
Omotosho, who spoke after the court ruling, said the judiciary was being punished because one of the courts ordered a temporary order against the government account
“What they should have done is give the opportunity to approach the Supreme Court within 14 days, and file another one, once your motion is dismissed. But they didn’t do that, and this is a deliberate plot to frustrate Iroju from enjoying the benefits of his judgment. So we are in hopeless and helpless situations,” he said.
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But Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Sir Charles Titiloye, who denied the allegation of intimidation, said Iroju was attempting to blackmail the government into paying what was not contained in the judgment.
Titiloye said the garnishee order affected the running of the three arms of government.
According to him, Iroju computed N245 million as his entitlement to be paid without recourse to the Clerk of the House.
“No court will grant him what is not in the judgment. What he is asking for cannot be paid by any governor without getting an invitation from the EFCC.
“Let him wait for the Court of Appeal to determine the case. He is asking for jumbo pay that is illegal. He is attempting to blackmail the judiciary.”