The Ondo State House of Assembly had suspended the impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The suspension came after the Chief Judge of the state, Olusegun Odusola, declined to set up a panel for the exercise. Lagos Reporters revealed that the House had initially promised to proceed with the process despite an order from the Federal High Court.

They cited sections of the constitution that prohibited the courts from interfering with an impeachment process within a legislative house. However, the Chief Judge sent a letter to the Speaker of the Assembly, Oladiji Olamide, on October 6, 2023, stating that he could not comply with the directive. This was due to an order issued by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which granted the request of the deputy governor. The court ordered that the impeachment proceedings be halted until it had ruled on the deputy governor’s case against the process.

In a telephone interview with Premium Times, the spokesperson of the Assembly, Olatunji Oshati, said on Friday that the lawmakers will comply with the order and halt further proceedings on the impeachment.

“This is to show that it is not about witch-hunting, it is about carrying out our oversight functions,” Mr. Oshati said.

“We have considered the letter which is everywhere in the public domain and we are halting the impeachment process until the order of the Federal High Court is vacated.

“It is not about being arrogant with power, it is about holding public officers accountable.

“It also shows that the process of impeachment transcends the monopoly of the legislature as we can see that the judiciary has stalled it.”

The House of Assembly had on 6 October directed the chief judge to set up a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct brought against Mr Aiyedatiwa by nine lawmakers.

The allegations include abuse of office, financial impropriety, and gross misconduct.

The deputy governor has denied the allegations, saying they are politically motivated.