Appeal Court Dismisses Impeachment Suit Against Ondo Deputy Gov
The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has dismissed the application by the Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, Olamide Oladiji and lawmakers seeking to impeach the State’s Deputy Governor, Aiyedatiwa Lucky.
The panel of justices at the Appellate Court dismissed the application on Thursday after the lawmakers withdrew the case claiming that their action was in the “interest of peace”.
According to the panel led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, the appeal “having been withdrawn, is hereby dismissed.”
Speaking on the latest development, the Speaker’s legal team led by Dr Remi Peter O. announced that parties to the impeachment dispute “have found political solution to their problems.”
The team further said; “On behalf of the appellants, we here to withdraw this appeal. The instruction to this effect was given to us yesterday and we have filed this morning the notice of withdrawal.
“In the interest of peace, we seek to withdraw this appeal”.
Reacting to the development, counsel to the Deputy Governor, said he has been served with the notice of withdrawal.
Similarly, the DSS counsel, I. Awo also confirmed receiving the notice of withdrawal, just as counsel to the remaining respondents also confirmed being served the withdrawal notice and indicated no objection to it.
The lawmakers had approached the Appellate Court to withdraw their application seeking to set aside the Federal High Court in Akure’s interim injunction preventing impeachment proceedings against the Deputy Governor following Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s prolonged absence from government activities on medical grounds.
Following their impeachment notice of September 20, the lawmakers had applied for an accelerated hearing of their motion against Aiyedatiwa.
But on September 26, 2023, Aiyedatiwa secured an interim injunction blocking any impeachment actions of the State Assembly members.
Joined as co-respondents were the Inspector General of Police (IGP), State Security Services (DSS), Governor Akeredolu, and the Chief Judge of Ondo State.
In his submission, the embattled Deputy Governor argued that the Federal High Court’s decision created a constitutional crisis regarding its jurisdiction over time-sensitive legislative processes.
