Ondo Assembly reactivates Aiyedatiwa’s impeachment process
Written by Adeola Ibrahim on October 24, 2023
Following the intervention of the All Progressives Congress, APC’s National Working Committee, the Ondo State House of Assembly yesterday asked the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, to form a seven-man panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the embattled Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Ayedatiwa, following the expiration of the interim injunction granted by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
It will be remembered that the APC NWC formed a reconciliation committee, chaired by former Katsina State governor Aminu Masari, to not only intervene but also see to the peaceful reconciliation of all parties concerned.
However, the Assembly Speaker, Mr Olamide Oladiji, stated in a letter to the Chief Judge of the state that the Federal High Court’s interim injunction in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023 has expired by operation of law.
“The Ondo State House of Assembly had requested your lordship on October 3, 2023, to constitute a seven-man Panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct levelled by the House against the Deputy-Governor of Ondo State, Mr Lucky Ayedatiwa, in accordance with Section 188 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” Oladiji said.
“Your lordship, however, opined that until the Ex-parte Order made on September 26, 2023, by the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court restraining you from setting up the Panel was either vacated or set aside, your hands would be tied.”Given the explicit provisions of Order 26 Rule 10 (2) and (3) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019, the said Order has now elapsed and/or become extinguished by the operation of the law, according to the circumstances and legal advice at the House’s disposal.
“As evidenced by the Certified True Copy of the Court’s record of proceedings for October 9, 2023 and October 16, 2023, respectively, the Court has not taken the application or renewed the Order.”
“Given the foregoing facts, your lordship would agree that the said Order has lapsed by operation of law, and no longer constitutes an impediment to your lordship’s discharge of the sacred constitutional obligation imposed on your office by Section 188 (5) of the Constitution to establish the Seven-man Panel.”
