Misconduct: Ondo Assembly begins process to impeach deputy gov

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Misconduct: Ondo Assembly begins process to impeach deputy gov

The Ondo State House of Assembly has commenced the process of removing the state deputy governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over alleged gross misconduct.

The House alleged that the embattled deputy governor was involved in some act of gross misconduct while in office as the acting governor.

Aiyedatiwa acted as governor while Governor Rotimi Akeredolu went abroad for medical treatment. He acted between June 13 and September 9 when the governor returned.

At the plenary on Wednesday, the Assembly brought up a petition against Aiyedatiwa.

The petition, which has been signed by nine out of the 17 members of the House, was read during the plenary presided over by the Speaker, Mr Olamide Oladiji.

Raising the motion, the Majority Leader of the House, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, quoted Section 188 of the constitution to back up his call that the Assembly should summon the deputy governor to respond to the allegations against him.

The motion was seconded by the lawmaker representing Akoko South-West Constituency 2, Tope Agbulu.

The House subsequently directed the Clerk, Mr Benjamin Jaiyeola, to communicate the invitation of the House to Aiyedatiwa.

The PUNCH reports that there was a heavy presence of armed security men at the entrance of the Assembly complex on Wednesday to prevent a possible breakdown of law and order.

A source in the Assembly told our correspondent that the embattled deputy governor was expected to respond to the allegation at a given time after which the judiciary would be expected to set up a panel for his impeachment.

“The whole process might take about two weeks to remove the deputy governor,” the source said.

It will be recalled that shortly after his return from his media vacation in Germany, Akeredolu sacked the media aides of the deputy governor.

The sacked aides, according to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, were Press Secretary to the Governor, Kenneth Odusola; Special Assistant to Governor (New Media) Okunniga Oladipupo; and Special Assistant to the Governor (Photography), Abayomi Adefolalu.

The affected aides were also alleged to have been involved in some acts suspected to be disloyal to the governor during the overseas vacation of Akeredolu.

“The Ministry of Information and Orientation is directed to provide adequate coverage for the activities of the deputy’s governor office henceforth,” the statement had read.

Efforts to get the reaction of the embattled deputy governor were not fruitful as he neither picked up calls nor responded to a text message sent to his line.