By Akinkunmi Favour Oluwajomiloju (IT student, RUN)
The letter from the Ondo State House of Assembly to the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olusegun Odusola, requesting the formation of an impeachment panel for the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has been met with opposition from Aiyedatiwa’s lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN).
In a letter addressed to the Chief Judge, Adegboruwa argued that the court order which had prevented the formation of an impeachment panel had expired, and that the allegations of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor were unsubstantiated and unfounded.
In the letter to the Chief Judge, Aiyedatiwa’s lawyer, Adegboruwa, argued that the court order prohibiting the formation of an impeachment panel was still in effect and asked the Ondo CJ to disregard the new request from the Ondo Assembly.
He claimed that the Assembly’s claim that the restraining order had expired was based on speculation, misunderstanding, overzealousness, misinterpretation of the law, and excessive zeal.
In this case, the court directed that the orders granted on September 26, 2023, should last until the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction, which is still pending before the court.
Contrary to this misconception of law and the facts, the same House of Assembly filed a Motion on Notice dated October 20, 2023, before the Court of Appeal, Abuja, in respect of the same orders of the Federal High Court, praying for abridgment of time to hear its appeal against the said orders.
If it is true that the orders expired by operation of law on October 18, 2023, as being falsely canvassed, why would the same House of Assembly file a fresh application two days later, in pursuit of its desire to set aside the said order that it claimed had expired?
While the Assembly is pursuing its appeal to set aside the orders in court, it is deviously asking My Lord (Ondo CJ) to set aside the same orders in chambers, purportedly by operation of law, Adegboruwa argued.