…Directs CJ to constitute Investigative Panel

By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

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The Ondo State House of Assembly has disclosed that the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has failed to respond to letter of notice submitted to him on September 25 on allegation of gross misconduct levelled against him.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Mr Olamide Oladiji said that the letter was submitted to the deputy governor through his Chief Protocol Officer.

Oladiji said that the assembly has resolved that in line with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, the deputy governor  should be duly served a notice of the said allegations to enable him reply the query as appropriate.

“Concerted efforts were made to serve the notice on the Deputy Governor who for some time was not available for the service, prompting the House to approach the court for a substituted service.

“On September 25, 2023 a substituted service of the notice of allegations was made on the Deputy Governor duly signed by more than one-third members of the House as required by the Constitution in Section 188 Sub-section 2,” he stated.

According to him, the constitution stipulates that the assembly should wait for seven days for the embattled deputy governor to respond which has lapsed.

The Speaker directed the Chief Judge of the State, Justice Olusegun Odusola to set up a seven-man panel to investigate the Deputy Governor on the allegations leveled against.

“The Constitution states that within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Judge of the State shall at the request of the speaker of the House of Assembly, appoint a panel of seven persons who in his opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party, to investigate the allegation(s) as provided in this section.

“Distinguished colleagues, I, therefore, wish to seek your opinion to direct the Chief Judge of Ondo State,  Justice Olusegun Ayedun Odusola to in line with this section of the constitution set up a seven-man panel to investigate the Deputy Governor on the allegations leveled against him,” he said.

The Speaker directed the Clerk, Jaiyeola Benjamin to do a head count where they have 23 members out of 26 at the plenary. Through a voice vote members gave a nod for the CJ to constitute the panel.

Earlier, the Majority Leader, Mr Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi,( Owo 1/APC), moved the motion for the Notice on the Ondo State Impeachment Panel Procedure Rules that the panel should be constituted by the Chief Judge of the state. The motion was seconded by Afe Felix( Akoko North West 2)

 “In line with the express provision of Section 188 (10) of the Constitution, the Panel shall not entertain or be bound by any court order or decision questioning or interfering with its proceedings.  

“The parties to the petition shall have the right to appear in person or through their legal practitioners.

“Upon the conclusion of its investigation and within three months after its inauguration, the Panel shall submit its Report to the House of Assembly in whatever form it considers most efficient and serve a copy of it on the office holder,” Ogunmolasuyi stated.

The Majority leader earlier moved a motion on the notice of motion on the Ondo State impeachment panel procedure rules, 2023 which was seconded by Mr Olajide Johnson( Akure 1/PDP).