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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Ondo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, gave a fresh directive to the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olusegun Odusola, to set up a seven-man panel to investigate the allegation of gross misconduct against the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The assembly began the impeachment process against the deputy governor last week, serving him with a notice containing 14 allegations of gross misconduct.
At Tuesday’s plenary, thr assembly said the deputy governor had yet to respond to the allegations.
The Majority Leader, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, therefore, moved a motion to direct the Chief Judge to set up a panel to commence Aiyedatiwa’s probe. The motion was seconded by Mr Felix Afe.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, who confirmed the alleged failure of Aiyedatiwa to respond to the allegations, said the letter of notice was received by the Chief Protocol Officer of the deputy governor on his ( Aiyedatiwa) behalf.
According to the Speaker, Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that the Assembly should wait for seven days for the deputy governor to respond, which had lapsed.
“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 on the deputy governor.
“On 25th of September, 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(2).
“Section 188 of the Constitution states further that the deputy governor has seven days within which to reply to the allegations levelled 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.
“Distinguished colleagues, I, therefore, wish to seek your opinion to direct the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Honourable Justice Olusegun Odusola, to, in line with this section of the constitution, set up a seven-man panel to investigate the deputy governor on the allegations levelled against him,” the Speaker said.
The deputy governor had last week secured an interim order from the Federal High Court in Abuja, restraining the Assembly from moving to impeach him.
The court also restrained Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from nominating a new deputy governor and forwarding the same to the lawmakers for approval pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
