The Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olanrewaju Akeredolu, has rejected the move by the State House of Assembly to impeach the defected deputy governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi.
Justice Akeredolu’s rejection was contained in a letter she wrote to the House of Assembly in response to a directive that she should constitute a seven-man impeachment panel to probe the state’s Deputy Governor.
The Chief Judge in her response rejected the request on the ground that the two-thirds majority required by the 1999 constitution for setting up such a probe panel was not formed in the house of Assembly.
The constitutional processes, according to Justice Akeredolu, include: “The Deputy Governor, Hon Alfred Agboola Ajayi must be served with notice of impeachment signed by not less than one-third of members of the House of Assembly of the State.
“The Notice to be served on him must state that he is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office and must specify the particulars of the gross misconduct.
“He must be allowed to respond to the allegations.
“Within 14 days of receipt of the Notice of the Honourable Speaker, whether or not the Deputy Governor responds, the House of Assembly shall pass a resolution supported by not less than two-thirds majority of all the members of the House of Assembly that the allegations be investigated.
The nine members have also written a letter to the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Akeredolu, dissociating themselves from the ongoing plans to impeach the Ondo deputy governor of the state.
The lawmakers are Rt. Hon. Iroju Ogundeji (Deputy Speaker), Hon. Jamiu Sulaiman Maito, Hon. Rasheed Olalekan Elegbeleye, Hon. Tomide Leonard Akinribido and Hon. Samuel Edamisan Ademola. Others are Hon. Favour Semilore Tomomewo, Hon. Festus Akingbaso, Hon. Adewale Williams Adewinle and Hon (Barr.) Torhukerhijo Success.
