Alleged Gross Misconduct: Court bars Ondo Assembly from impeaching Lucky Aiyedatiwa

On Tuesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja barred the Ondo State House of Assembly from impeaching the Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for alleged gross misconduct.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued his decision shortly after Aiyedatiwa’s counsel, Kayode Adewusi, brought the ex-parte motion.

The judge also barred Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu from appointing a new deputy governor and referred the matter to parliament for approval until the outcome of the substantive hearing.

After hearing Adewusi, Justice Nwite concluded that allowing the application would serve the interests of justice.

“Therefore, the application of the applicant succeeds,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the embattled deputy governor had, in a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023, sued the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

Gov. Akeredoku, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Ondo State, and the House of Assembly are the other respondents, ranked first to sixth.
Aiyedatiwa requested four reliefs in his application, which was submitted on September 21 by Mr Adelanke Akinrata.

The judge also issued a temporary injunction prohibiting Akeredolu, his servants, or privies from harassing, intimidating, or shaming Aiyedatiwa or stopping him from carrying out his duties as deputy governor of Ondo State.

Justice Nwite, who granted all of the reliefs, delayed the case to Oct. 9 for further proceedings.

According to NAN, Aiyedatiwa also asked the High Court in Akure in another action titled AK/348/2023 to stay the state’s house of assembly from advancing with the impeachment processes against him awaiting the hearing and determination of the petition filed in court on Monday.

(NAN)