By Akinsuroju Olubunmi
Ondo Assembly requests panel to resume deputy governor’s impeachment process
In a recent turn of events, the Ondo State House of Assembly has reached out to the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Olusegun Odusola, urging him to establish a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr. Olamide Oladiji, penned a letter to this effect, explaining that the impeachment proceedings were recommencing after the Federal High Court’s ex parte order had expired.
The titled letter, ‘Request to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, following the expiration of the interim injunction of the Federal High Court in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023 by operation of the law,’ delineated the House’s position.
It conveyed, “The Ondo State House of Assembly had on 3rd October 2023 requested your lordship to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct leveled by the House against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa, in line with Section 188 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).”
After a previous letter from Justice Odusola cited constitutional provisions that temporarily restrained the panel formation, the House now maintains that the order has lapsed through legal operation, thereby clearing the way for the panel’s establishment.
The House concluded, “Consequently, the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly hereby calls on your lordship to kindly constitute the Panel without any further delay.”
This development follows the recent suspension of the impeachment process, a move prompted by Justice Odusola’s initial reluctance to establish the panel due to a court order.