Ondo: Assembly Insists On Impeachment Process Against Deputy Governor, Again, Mandates Chief Judge, To Set Up Panel

By Ayodele Oni

The Ondo State House of Assembly has again insisted that the State Chief Judge, must set up a seven-man panel to investigate allegations against the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The fresh request is coming just as Aiyedatiwa was sighted at his office in Akure on Monday weeks after his absence due to the impeachment threat by the Assembly.

The Assembly had, last week, honoured the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) which waded in to resolve the crisis.

The Assembly told Aiyedatiwa to withdraw the suit he filed at the Courts before meaningful dialogue could take place.

In what looked like a turn around again on Monday, the Assembly mandated the Chief Judge to go ahead with the constitution of the panel, saying “from the facts and legal advice at the disposal of the House, the earlier court Order restraining the House has now elapsed and/or become extinguished by the operation of the law.”

In the letter, signed by the Speaker, Oladiji Adesanmi stated that “Your lordship would recall that the ex parte order was made on September 26, 2023, after which the case was adjourned to October 9, 2023.

“The 3rd Defendant in the case filed a motion on October 4, 2023 to discharge the Order and/or strike out the case for want of jurisdiction.

“Fourteen days from October 4, 2023 when the motion was filed, terminated on or about October 18, 2023. The Court has not taken the application or renewed the Order, as evident in the Certified True Copy of the Court’s record of proceedings for October 9, 2023 and October 16, 2023.

“In fact, in Exhibit ODHA3, it was recorded that the motion was served on the Plaintiff in Court on October 9, 2023, after which the matter was adjourned to October 16, 2023.

“In view of the above facts, your lordship would agree that the said Order has elapsed by the operation of the law, and no longer constitutes an encumbrance for your lordship to discharge the sacred constitutional obligation placed on your office by virtue of Section 188 (5) of the Constitution to set up the Seven-man Panel.

“Consequently, the 10th Ondo State House of Assembly hereby calls on your lordship to kindly constitute the Panel without any further delay.”

From the latest development, there are indications that the peace move by the leadership of APC has failed to resolve the crisis between the Governor and Deputy.