The Ondo State House of Assembly has ordered the Chief Magistrate of the state, Olusegun Odusola, to constitute a panel to investigate allegations of serious misconduct leveled against Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
On Monday, the House notified the lieutenant governor of the accusations, the first formal step in the impeachment process.
Aiyedatiwa had instead approached the state high court in Akure, attempting to stop the proceedings.
He also prayed the court to stop the chief judge from constituting a panel for his impeachment trial.
He denied any wrongdoing and said he had been loyal to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu while he was abroad on medical leave.
But in an extraordinary session on Monday afternoon, lawmakers ordered the chief judge to constitute a panel to investigate Aiyedatiwa.
Moving a motion, the House Majority Leader, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, said the move is in line with the Nigerian constitution.
The motion was supported by Tope Komolafe, who represents Ifedore state constituency.
“In accordance with the Nigerian Constitution, Section 188, Subsection 4-5, the Chief Judge of the State shall, at the request of the House of Assembly, appoint a panel of seven persons who are of unquestionable character and integrity to investigate the alleged allegation . by the section,” the motion said.
Speaker Olamide Oladiji stated in his remarks that lawmakers have the duty to investigate any allegation against an official in accordance with the Constitution.
He said the House would follow due process in its actions on the issue.
Oladiji then ordered the chief judge to establish a seven-member investigative panel to investigate the allegation against the deputy governor.
“The Chief Judge is hereby implored to appoint a seven-person panel of unquestionable integrity to investigate the allegation against the Lieutenant Governor and report back to the House,” he said.
“The Lieutenant Governor is hereby granted seven days to respond to the letter written to him by this honorable House.”
In the letter to the deputy governor, the House made generic allegations of “serious misconduct” against Aiyedatiwa.
“At its plenary session on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, a notice of allegations of serious misconduct against His Excellency duly signed by eleven (11) honorable members of the State House of Assembly was considered on the floor of the house. of Ondo,” the letter said. .
“The allegations against His Excellency are: (I) gross misconduct (II) abuse of power with actions likely to overthrow the Ondo State government. (III) Financial recklessness (IV) Publications in print media by his media assistants defaming the credibility of the Governor, etc.
“In accordance with the provisions of Article 188 (2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), a copy of the notification must be provided to His Excellency to enable him to respond to the accusations contained therein. .”
Although he has been accused of “gross misconduct”, Mr Aiyedatiwa’s problems arose from alleged disloyalty towards Mr Akeredolu when the latter became incapacitated.
Akeredolu returned from medical treatment in Germany two weeks ago but has since run the state government from his private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.