The Oyo State House of Assembly, on Monday, impeached the state’s deputy governor, Rauf Olaniyan, over allegations of gross misconduct and financial impropriety, while in office.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the chief judge had on Thursday constituted the panel to investigate the allegations leveled against the deputy governor by the lawmakers.
The panel was said to have begun its sitting immediately and worked all through the weekend.
The House Majority Leader, Sanjo Adedoyin, read the panel’s reports at the plenary.
The lawmakers, after considering the panel’s recommendations, pronounced the impeachment of the deputy governor and that it should take immediate effect.
Olaniyan had been elected into office in 2019 with Governor Seyi Makinde under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party but had a falling out with the governor over time.
This year, the differences between both men and their working relationship deteriorated and became virtually irreconcilable when the Deputy Governor dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress.
Abimbola Fashanu, Mr. Olaniyan’s lawyer, had jointly taken the state House of Assembly; the Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, and the Clerk of the House to court over the impeachment move by the lawmakers.
He said: “We appeal for an order of injunction restraining the respondents from enforcing or implementing the judgment on Thursday.
“This is pending the determination of the appeal lodged against the said judgment.
“It’s expedient that an order of injunction be granted so that the outcome of the appeal will not be rendered nugatory.”
Mr. Fashanu, however, stressed the need for Nigerians to respect the court processes, being the fundamental principles of the rule of law.
“It is no longer news that His Lordship went ahead to constitute the panel despite the clear notice of pending appeal and application for Stay of Execution.
“With Respect to His Lordship, the Honourable Chief Judge, as number one citizen in the Judiciary, should have respected the judicial process,” he said.
Joshua is a multidisciplinary creative and tech enthusiast who seeks to create meaningful experiences that make for a better and more equal world. He is a creative entrepreneur and human rights activist whose work navigates socio-cultural discourse and how it can be used as a vehicle for change.
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