Our History
The Osun State Judiciary emerged with the creation of Osun State on 27th August, 1991 by the then Military President, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
Osun State was carved out of the ‘old’ Oyo State, and the State Judiciary successfully detached itself from that of Oyo State when the then Acting Chief Judge of Oyo State, Hon. Justice Akin Apara, led 10 other Hon. Judges (who were indigenes of Osun State) from Oyo State to pioneer the Judiciary of the ‘new’ Osun State.
The inauguration of the 1st set of Honourable Judges of Osun State took place on 3rd October, 1991 before the then Military Administrator of the State, Col. Leo Segun Ajiborisa, at the Administrator’s Office, Osogbo. His Lordship, the Hon. Justice Akin Apara was sworn in as the substantive and pioneer Chief Judge of Osun State on 3rd December, 1991.
In August 1992, Osun State also witnessed the appointment of the 1st set of Judges namely late Hon. Justice O. Iyanda, late Hon. Justice R. O. Yusuf, Late Hon. Justice (Dr.) L. O. Aremu, Late Hon. Justice F. O. Ogunsola and Hon. Justice Jimi Bada (now Justice of the Court of Appeal).
The Judiciary of Osun State also witnessed the creation of the 1st Customary Court of Appeal in the South-West Geo-Political Zone of this Country. The inauguration of the Court and the 1st President, Late Hon. Justice G.O. Ojo came up on 20th May, 2008 while the 1st set of three (3) Judges of the State Customary Court of Appeal took the oath of office on 25th June, 2008.
The following are the Chief Judges of Osun State from 1991 till date:
Hon. Justice Akin Olajide Opara: 3rd December 1991 – 25th October 1996
Hon. Justice Adedotun Adetayo Sijuwade: 8th September 1997 – 6th March 2001
Hon. Justice Olatunde Oluborode: 1st June 2001 – 4th March 2002
Hon. Justice Fasasi Olaniyi Ogunsola: 4th July 2002 – 20th May 2010
Hon. Justice George Olaniyi Ojo: 23rd July 2010 – 8th November 2012.
The current Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo was sworn in on 17th June 2013 as the 6th Chief Judge of the State.
The Customary Court of Appeal is currently headed by the President, Customary Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice R. A. Shiyanbola who was sworn into office on 11th January, 2022.
Past Presidents of the Customary Court of Appeal are:
Hon. Justice G. O. Ojo: October 2008 – May 2010
Hon. Justice G. E. Oladoke: July 2010 – October 2019
Hon. Justice F. E. Awolalu: 21st January – 18th September 2020
Hon. Justice W. O. Akanbi: 10th February – 15th June, 2021.