Impeachment: Ondo Speaker, Nine lawmakers mount pressure on Chief Judge

Nine lawmakers who dissociated themselves from the impeachment process of Ondo state deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi in the Ondo State House of Assembly have asked the Ondo Chief Judge, Justice Oluwatoyin Akeredolu, to uphold section 188 of the Nigeria Constitution in the move to remove Ajayi.

They are Iroju Ogundeji, Jamiu Suleiman Maito, Rasheed Elegbeleye, Tomide Akinrinbodo, Samuel Ademola, Favour Semilore Tomomewo, Festus Akingbaso, Adewale Adekunle and Torhukerhijo Success.

In an open letter, the lawmakers said they were notifying the Chief Judge based on plans by the leadership of the House to suspend some of them in order to carry out the impeachment

According to the letter: “We want to state and confirm to your good office that we maintain our stand by dissociating ourselves from the impeachment process.

The letter reads: kindly be informed that Nine (9) underlisted elected Honourable Members of Ondo State House of Assembly have duly disassociated ourselves from the ongoing impeachment process of the Deputy Governor, H.E (HON) Agboola Afred Ajayi in a letter dated 7th July,2020, to the clerk and the Rt Honourable Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly here with attached.

We want to state and confirm to your good office that we maintain our stand by dissociating ourselves from the impeachment process. We are not in support of the impeachment based on our individual personal conviction.

We are rest assured that your lordship will uphold section 188 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) particularly section 188 (3)(4)(5)-(11)

It is equally worthy of note that the total membership of Ondo State House of Assembly is (26) twenty six in which the 2/3 is 18, AND THIS REMAINS THE CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED NUMBER IRRESPECTIVE OF ANY ARBITRARY SUSPENSION

We are writing to call your attention to the fact that all or some of us who are signatories to this letter may be suspended in order to circumvent the provision of the Constitution of Nigeria, which we all swore to uphold and protect, including your honourable Lordship, as this will be contrary to the laws of the land.

Please accept the assurance of our highest consideration.

Meanwhile, the speaker ,Ondo state house of assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun has written another letter to the chief judge “to set Up a Seven-Man Panel to investigate the Notice of Allegations 0f Gross Misconduct dated 7th July. 2020 by Members of the House against Honourable Alfred Agboola Ajayi. the Deputy Governor of Ondo State.”

Read the letter below :

REQUEST TO SET UP A PANEL PURSUANT TO SECTION 188(5) OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (AS AMENDED)

You are hereby requested to set Up a Seven-Man Panel to investigate the Notice of Allegations 0f Gross Misconduct dated 7th July. 2020 by Members of the House against Honourable Alfred Agboola Ajayi. the Deputy Governor of Ondo State.
By the Resolution of the House today pursuant to 8.188(3) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) it was resolved that the allegations be investigated forthwith.
It is in line with the above that I request that you set up the 7-Man Panel to conduct the said investigations as resolved by the Honourable House and the Panel shall as soon as possible report back to the
House.