By Ken Afor
The Ondo State House of Assembly on Tuesday declared that Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the deputy governor, had neglected to reply to the letter of notice that had been delivered to him on September 25, over allegations of egregious misconduct.
The letter of notice was obtained by the Speaker, Mr. Olamide Oladiji, on behalf of Aiyedatiwa.
Speaking at the plenary session in Akure, Oladiji said the house resolution that the deputy governor should be properly served a notice of the allegations was in accordance with Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution.
Conscious attempts were made to serve the notice on the deputy governor, who for a while was unavailable for the service, leading the House to ask the court for a substituted service on the deputy governor.
In accordance with Section 188 Sub-section 2 of the Constitution, a substituted service of the Notice of Allegations was delivered to the deputy governor on September 25th, according to what he said.
He claims that the House must wait seven days after the embattled deputy governor’s deadline to respond, as required by the constitution, which has passed.
However, the Speaker ordered Justice Olusegun Odusola, the chief judge of Ondo State, to immediately set up a 7-man panel to look into the deputy governor’s alleged wrongdoing.
The Speaker stated: “Distinguished colleagues, Section 188 of the Constitution states further that the deputy governor has 7 days within which to reply to the allegations levelled against him.
“The Constitution states further that within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Judge of the state shall at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly appoint a panel of seven persons.
“Distinguished colleagues, I, therefore, wish to seek your opinion to direct the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Hon. Justice Olusegun Odusola, to, in line with this section of the Constitution, set up a seven-man panel to investigate the deputy governor on the allegations levelled against him.”
With 23 of the 26 members needed for the panel present in the plenary session, the House approved the appointment of the chief judge by voice vote.
In a previous motion, the majority leader, Mr. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi (Owo 1-APC), requested that the state’s chief judge appoint the panel and provide notice of the rules governing the Ondo State Impeachment Panel Procedure Rules.
Mr. Felix Afe (Akoko North West 2-PDP) voted in favor of the motion.
It would be recalled that the deputy governor was indicted by the House following allegations of financial misconduct and abuse of office.
It was alleged that the deputy governor while standing in for his principal, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who was was in Germany for medical treatment approved the sum of N300 million naira for the purchase of an SUV vehicle for personal use.
In reaction to the allegations, members in the House called for his impeachment.
But, the deputy governor who was appointed by his principal following the removal of Mr. Agboola Ajayi headed to court to stop his impeachment proceedings.
The court however granted his request but the members of the house had insisted that the impeachment proceedings must continue.
