Ondo speaker, three others to be arraigned over contempt of court

***may celebrate Xmas in prison

The speaker, Ondo state house of assembly, Bamidele Oleyeloogun has been served form 49(contempt of court committal)by the Ondo state high court over his failure to obey court order reinstating four suspended lawmakers.

Others served by the court are ,Clerk,Parliamentary Secretary and Deputy-Majority leader.

The four contemnors are to be arraigned in court on Thursday,December 17, 2020

Recall that the Court presided over by Justice Ademola Bola had ordered the reinstatement of four members of the Assembly who were suspended over their refusal to sign the impeachment notice against the deputy governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi.

The four lawmakers the court asked the assembly leadership to reinstate and paid N5m each for their unlawful suspension include the deputy speaker, Rt Hon Iroju Ogundeji, Hon Favour Tomomowo, Tomide Akinribido and Wale William-Adewinle.

However, the Assembly presided over by Oleyeloogun approached the Court of Appeal to halt the implementation of the orders of the lower court.

But the appellate court in its judgment uphold the judgment of the lower court and ordered the reinstatement of the lawmaker to their offices and the payment of their entitlements from the day of their unlawful suspension.

Apart from directing the reinstatement of the lawmakers, Justice Oyebisi Omoleye of the Appeal Court in her judgement ordered the appellants to pay the sum of N250.000.00 jointly and severally to the lawmakers as damages.

Despite the orders of both the lower and appellate courts, the four lawmakers have not been allowed into the plenary session of the Assembly nor paid their entitlements.

Dissatisfied with the action of the leadership of the Assembly, the four lawmakers through their counsel, Mr Olabanjo Ayenakin filed contempt charges against the Speaker and three others.

In the notice of consequence of disobedience to order of the court filed at the weekend, the lawmakers said unless the Assembly obey the direction contained in the judgment of the court, they would be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.

The notice read; a declaration that by the provision of section 36(1) and 2(a) and b of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended and rules and standing orders of the Ondo State House of Assembly and the Code of conduct of the House, the indefinite suspension of the claimants from the House of Assembly was unlawful, null and void.

Form 48 that was served on November 26 was a “last warning” notice on them to obey the court judgement. Form 49 is to summon them to court for trial. Contempt is a jailable offence.