Mimiko picks agric commissioner as deputy

Olusegun Mimiko, governor of Ondo state, has nominated Lasisi Oluboyo (pictured), the current commissioner for agriculture, to replace Ali Olanusi, his deputy who was impeached on Monday morning.

Twenty-two out of the 26 lawmakers endorsed the impeachment motion moved by Henry Akinsoyinu, the majority leader, and seconded by Oyebo Aladetan, deputy majority leader.

Jumoke Akindele, speaker of the state house of assembly, subsequently directed Olanusi to hand over the properties of government within his possession to the permanent secretary in his former office, after ratifying the impeachment.

When the assembly resumed hearing after the impeachment, the letter which Mimiko wrote to the house seeking the approval of Oluboyo was read.

Represented by Dare Eniola, the deputy speaker, Akindele chaired the committee, which screened Oluboyo.

Akinsoyinu moved the motion for the consideration of the governor’s request and Fatai Olotu, seconded it before Oluboyo was confirmed as the new deputy governor.

Meanwhile, the assembly had hastened Olanusi’s impeachment to prevent an injunction of the federal high court in Akure from restraining it to do so.

Olanusi filed an ex-parte application through Olukoya Ogungbeje, his counsel, seeking to stop the legislators from ousting him.

Ogungbeje had rushed to the court around 7am when he got wind of the plans by the assembly to hurriedly impeach Olanusi. But unfortunately for him, the court had not sat as at the time the assembly commenced the plenary session where Olanusi was ousted.

In suit no FHC/AK/CS/50/2015 filed before Isaq Sani, a justice,Ogungbeje had urged the court to rule that the committee that sat and recommended the impeachment of the deputy governor within three days was a kangaroo one.

Referring to the case of Danladi Vs Taraba where a committee that had 30 days to sit chose to use three days, he alleged that there was a constitutional infraction.

After Ogungbeje moved his application, Sani stood down the matter till 10:30 am for ruling.

Upon reconvening, the judge refused to grant the prayer to stop the house of assembly from impeaching the deputy governor, but ordered that the respondents in the matter should be put on notice.

The matter was consequently adjourned till May 7 for hearing.

At the time of filing this report, a similar suit by the impeached deputy governor to challenge his planned impeachment was ongoing before the same court.