Court Halts Removal of Ondo Deputy Gov, Aiyedatiwa

Alex Enumah in Abuja 

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, has restrained the Ondo State House of Assembly from removing the Deputy Governor, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over alleged acts of gross misconduct.

Justice Nwite issued the restraining order on Tuesday while ruling in an exparte application brought by Aiyedatiwa.

Besides the state lawmakers, the judge also restrained Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from nominating a new deputy governor and forwarded the same to the lawmakers for approval pending the hearing and determination of the substantive matter.

The deputy governor had, in a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023, sued the state assembly, as well as the governor over moves to remove him from office as deputy governor.

Respondents in the suit are the Governor; Speaker; members of the House of Assembly; Chief Judge of Ondo State; the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

However, pending the hearing of the substantive suit, Aiyedatiwa through his lawyer, Mr Kayode Adewusi, filed and argued the ex-parte motion to forestall his removal from office.

After listening to Adewusi, the court held that the application has merit, adding that it would be in the interest of justice to grant the application.

“Therefore, the application of the applicant succeeds,” the court held.

Besides halting the removal of the deputy governor, the court made another order of interim injunction restraining Akeredolu, his servants or privies from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing and preventing Aiyedatiwa in carrying out the functions of his office as Deputy Governor of Ondo State.

Justice Nwite, who granted all the reliefs,  adjourned the matter until October 9 for hearing in the main suit.

Meanwhile, Ayedatiwa had, also in another suit marked: AK/348/2023, prayed the High Court in Akure to stop the state’s House of Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment proceedings against him pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed in the court on Monday.