Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have commenced the process to remove the state’s deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi.
It would be recalled that the House commenced the process of removing the deputy governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi early today.
“Consequent upon listed below, we the under listed duly elected honourable member of the 9th Assembly moved the impeachment of the deputy governor of Ondo State, His Excellency Honourable Alfred Agboola Ajayi with immediate effect based on the following allegations:
1. Gross misconduct
2. Abuse of office with actions likely to bring down Ondo State government.
3. Financial recklessness.
4. Abandonment of office, official duty and other assignments.
5. Actions on Sunday 21st June 2020 likely to cause a breach of peace in reference to 1983 political crisis with the intent to incite citizens against the government of Ondo state in a video clip at government house-ground before the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State.
6. Publications dated Tuesday, 23td June 2020 on new media and print media by sacked aide, Babatunde Okeowo credited to his person and office. Maligning the credibility of the legislative arm of Government with false allegations of cash inducement.
7. Petition from All Progressives Congress (APC) Ondo chapter on his alleged movement to PDP having sworn-in as the Deputy Governor on the party’s ticket with Mr. Governor for a 4-years term,” the Assembly concluded.
The members of the Assembly deliberated briefly in the Assembly on the allegation of gross misconduct against Ajayi. However, the plenary became rowdy as the legislators who oppose the impeachment process put a fierce resistance to the impeachment plan.
While the plenary was ongoing, the anti-impeachment legislators released a statement to dissociate themselves from the process.
In a statement signed by nine legislators and made available to KAFTAN Post, the pro-Agboola camp, led by erstwhile Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Iroju Ogundeji said their decision not to be part of the impeachment process was borne out of personal conviction.
The statement reads:
“We the underlisted elected Honourable members of the 9th session of the Ondo State House of Assembly hereby append our signatures to clarify that we have resolved not to partake in the impeachment process of the Ondo State Deputy Governor, H.E Hon. Alfred Agboola Ajayi.
“In view of the above, we hereby bring to the notice of Mr. Speaker, Rt. Hon Bamidele David Oloyelogun, the entire Honourable members of the Ondo State House of Assembly and the general public that we do not support the impeachment process and would not want to be associated with it based on personal convictions,” the members concluded.
On the premises of the Assembly, scores of armed policemen and the men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are present to maintain the law and order.
It would be recalled that the lawmakers were directed to return from their recess through a paid advertisement in a national newspaper last Saturday.
While the clerk of the Assembly, Olabode Adeyelu hinged the resumption on the legislative duties that require urgent attention, many observers were of the opinion that the lawmakers were asked to resume with the intent of removing the embattled Deputy Governor.
Sensing the danger, however, Agboola Ajayi o Monday approached the court to halt the purported impeachment plan
The embattled Deputy Governor, through his lawyer, filed the suit seeking to stop the impeachment proceeding and enforce the deputy governor’s fundamental rights of association.
Other defendants joined in the suit filed by Agboola’s lawyers, aside from the House of Assembly, including the Inspector General of Police, State Commissioner Of Police, Department of State Services (DSS) and the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon David Oloyelogun.
