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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
The Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure on Tuesday, awarded the sum of N200,000 against the state’s deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over the failure of his lawyer to appear in court.
Aiyedatiwa’s counsel reportedly did not appear in the court to argue the motion he filed to restrain the chief judge of the state and the House of Assembly from proceeding with his impeachment process, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal he filed against the court judgement of October 10, 2023.
The court also asked the deputy governor to pay N50,000 each to the Speaker, House of Assembly, clerk and chief judge, who are the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth respondents respectively.
Justice O. Akintan-Osadebay, had earlier dismissed Aiyedatiwa’s suit on the grounds that it would amount to an abuse of judicial process, in view of the earlier suit which he filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, over the same impeachment issue.
After the case had been dismissed, Aiyedatiwa filed a notice of appeal alongside an application that the court should restrain the assembly and chief judge from proceeding with the impeachment, pending the hearing and determination of his appeal.
However, at the resumed hearing of the motivation n on Tuesday, counsel to the assembly and chief judge were in court, but the deputy governor’s counsel was absent.
Counsel to the assembly, Femi Emodamori, informed the court that the motion for injunction was earlier adjourned till Tuesday, based on the agreement of both parties and wondered why Aiyedatiwa’s counsel was absent and allegedly did not write the court over his absence.
Justice Akintan-Osadebay adjourned the hearing of the motion till November 7, 2023, and awarded the N200,000 cost against Aiyedatiwa for wasting the time of the court and the other parties.