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An Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, on Friday, nullified the suspension of four members of the state House of Assembly.
The House suspended the lawmakers few weeks ago, following allegation of gross misconduct levelled against them.
The lawmakers include the Deputy Speaker, Mr Ogundeji Iroju; Mrs. Favour Tomomowo; Mr Wale Williams; and Tomide Akinribido. They were part of the lawmakers who opposed the impeachment process of the deputy governor of the state, Mr Agboola Ajayi, after he dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in June.
Three of the suspended lawmakers; Ogundeji, Tomomowo and Williams are members of APC, while Akinribido is the only member of the House on the platform of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Unconfirmed reports said their suspension may not be unconnected with their refusal to sign the impeachment notice.
The aggrieved lawmakers who were irked by the decision of the leadership of the House led by Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun, to suspend them, sought for the protection of the court and urged the court to declare their suspension as illegal.
Delivering judgement, the Presiding Judge, Justice Ademola Bola, ruled that the suspension of the lawmakers was illegal, null and void and of no effect, saying the Speaker of the House of Assembly, as well as other members, have no power to suspend any member of the House.
The judge in his verdict held that the defendants, which include the House of Assembly; the Speaker; the Deputy Majority Leader; Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, the Parliamentary Secretary; Prince Abayomi Akinruntan, and the Clerk of the House, Mr Bode Adeyelu, have violated sections 90, 91, 106 and 117 of the 1999 constitution.
The judge ruled that the lawmakers should be reinstated into their positions in the House of Assembly with immediate effect, and awarded the sum of N5 million to each of the lawmakers as damages.
Reacting to the judgement, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Kola Olawoye, described the judgment as no victor no vanquished.
He urged all members of the House to unite and work for the progress of the state.
Also speaking, the Deputy Speaker, Iroju, who spoke on behalf of the suspended lawmakers, charged all members of the House to work together and ensure the House operates independently according to the provisions of the constitution.