As Ondo CJ Rescues Deputy Governor

While many were thinking that nothing would stop the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Aitedatiwa, from being sacked, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olusegun Odusola, has come to his rescue by refusing to set up a panel for the exercise.

The assembly had earlier vowed to proceed with the process despite an order of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, which granted the deputy governor’s request for the lawmakers to halt the impeachment proceedings.

The lawmakers cited the sections of the constitution forbidding the interference of the courts in an impeachment process at a legislative house.

Having ignored the order, the assembly on October 6, directed the chief judge to set up a panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct brought against Aiyedatiwa by nine lawmakers.

However, Justice Odusola in his reply to the letter, said he could not comply with the directive because of the order of the Federal High Court.

The chief judge in the letter to the Speaker of the Assembly, Oladiji Olamide, with reference no. CROD/1123/V.3/ dated October 6, 2023, cited Section 287 (3) of the Constitution as the reason why he cannot act on the letter from the assembly.

In the letter titled, ‘Re: Letter of Request to Set Up Investigation Panel Pursuant to Section 188 (5) of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended),” Justice Odusola said despite being mindful of Section 188, he was restrained by the order of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Analysts are surprised that the lawmakers are after Aiyedatiwa, but not bothered about Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who since he returned from his medical vacation in Germany over six weeks ago, has not only been seen in public, but has been governing the state from Ibadan, Oyo State.

It is hoped that with the intervention of Justice Odusola, the reconciliation committee set up by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, will quickly swing into action and resolve the matter.