Ondo Assembly Asks CJ To Raise Impeachment Panel Against Dep. Gov

The Ondo State House of Assem­bly has again ordered the Chief Judge of the state to constitute a seven-man investigation panel to investigate the impeachable allegations levelled against the state Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, during the plenary, told the As­sembly that the deputy governor has failed to reply the Assembly on the allegations levelled against him.

The lawmakers had last Mon­day written to the Chief Judge to constitute the investigation panel but the Chief Judge had probably refused to obey the House of As­sembly due to a court injunction granted the deputy governor, re­straining the lawmakers and the Chief Judge from proceeding with the impeachment process commenced by the Assembly.

But the Assembly on Tuesday commenced with the impeach­ment process without recourse to the court injunction.

Last Monday, the Assembly had before the expiration of the seven days given the deputy gov­ernor to reply to the allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office levelled against him, writ­ten to the Chief Judge to consti­tute a seven-person investigation panel to investigate the deputy governor.

The Assembly had forwarded a letter to the deputy governor to defend himself on 14 allegations levelled against him.

It could not be ascertained whether the Chief Judge would follow the order of the Assembly and constitute the seven-person panel despite the court injunction restraining the Assembly and the Chief Judge from continuing with the impeachment process of the deputy governor.

In his address, the speaker said: “Concerted efforts were made to serve the notice on the deputy governor who for some time was not available for the service, prompting the House to approach the court for a substi­tuted service of the notice on the deputy governor.

“On 25th of September, 2023, a substituted service of the no­tice of allegations was made on the deputy governor duly signed by more than one-third honour­able members of the House as required by the constitution in Section 188 Sub-section 2.

“Distinguished colleagues, Section 188 of the constitution states further that the deputy governor has seven days within which to reply to the allegations leveled against him.

“The constitution states fur­ther that within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Judge of the state shall at the request of the speaker of the House of Assem­bly, appoint a panel of seven per­sons who in his opinion are of un­questionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative House or political par­ty, to investigate the allegation(s) as provided in this section.

“Distinguished colleagues, I, therefore, wish to seek your opin­ion to direct the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Hon. Justice Oluse­gun Ayedun Odusola, to in line with this section of the constitu­tion set up a seven-man panel to investigate the deputy governor on the allegations leveled against him.”

The speaker, therefore, redi­rected the Clerk, Jaiyeola Benja­min, to write to the Chief Judge of the state to constitute the panel.

The Majority Leader, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi (Owo 1/APC), moved the motion for the notice on the Ondo State Impeachment Panel Procedure Rules that the panel should be constituted by the Chief Judge of the state. The motion was seconded by Hon. Afe Felix (Akoko, North West 2).

Ogunmolasuyi said: “In line with the express provision of Sec­tion 188 (10) of the constitution, the panel shall not entertain or be bound by any court order or de­cision questioning or interfering with its proceedings.

“The parties to the petition shall have the right to appear in person or through their legal practitioners.

“Upon the conclusion of its investigation and within three months after its inauguration, the panel shall submit its report to the House of Assembly in whatever form it considers most efficient and serve a copy of it on the office holder.”