Ondo lawmakers distance selves from Aiyedatiwa’s impeachment process

Some members of the Ondo house of assembly have distanced themselves from a new letter on the creation of a panel to investigate Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

On Monday, the Ondo assembly, in a letter, asked Olusegun Odusola, the chief judge (CJ) of the state, to constitute a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against Aiyedatiwa, the deputy governor.

The assembly asked Odusola to constitute the panel without delay.

In a statement signed by 11 of the 26 lawmakers, the members said the letter, which was written by Oladiji Adesanmi, the speaker, and addressed to the chief judge, is “least unwarranted and uncalled for”.

The 11 lawmakers said the decision to transmit the letter to the chief judge was “taken without a formal sitting of the house and our knowledge as members of the 10th assembly”.

The 11 lawmakers said they became aware of the letter addressed to the chief judge on social media.

The lawmakers added that they believe that the house should be honourable enough to accept their agreement to suspend the impeachment process after a meeting in Abuja.

The members who signed the letter are Japheth Oluwatoyin, Jide Oguntodu, Tiamiyu Fatai Atere, Gbegudu Ololade, Allen Oluwatoyin, Abitogun Stephen, Tope Komolafe, Afe Felix, Oladapo Biola, Fayemi Olawumi and Oshati Olatunji.

“We equally call on His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, to earnestly tow the path of the agreement for amicable and political solution to the impeachment saga, as brokered by the national working committee of All Progressive Congress (APC),” the statement reads.

“In the light of the foregoing, we, the undersigned members of Ondo state house of assembly, wish to dissociate ourselves from the letter titled: ‘Request to Constitute a Seven-man Panel to Investigate the Allegation of Gross Misconduct Against the Deputy Governor of Ondo State’.

“Following the expiration of the interim injunction of the Federal High Court in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023, by Operation of Law, signed by Rt. Hon. Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi and addressed to the chief judge of Ondo state.”

PREVIOUS SAGA

Prior to this development, the Ondo assembly had commenced impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor.

To prevent the impeachment, Aiyedatiwa filed two suits at the Ondo high court and the federal high court in Abuja.

The suit filed in the Ondo court was dismissed over lack of jurisdiction and abuse of court process, while the suit at the federal high court was withdrawn.

The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also met with members of the Ondo assembly to prevail on them to stop the impeachment process.

On October 16, Olatunji Oshati, the spokesperson of the assembly, announced the suspension of the impeachment proceedings.

Aiyedatiwa has also tendered an apology to Rotimi Akeredolu, the state governor.