The Ondo state House of Assembly on Monday morning impeached the deputy governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi.
Monday’s plenary session was attended by 24 out of the 26 members of the House, including the Speaker, all in support of the impeachment, Channels TV reports.
The impeachment motion was moved by the majority leader, Henry Akinsoyinu, who revealed that the seven impeachable offences of gross misconduct and abuse of office levelled against the deputy governor have been proved.
The motion was seconded by the deputy majority leader, Oyebo Aladetan.
The seven man panel of investigation set up by the state chief judge, Olasehinde Kumuyi, chaired by Olatunji Adeniyan, had earlier in the morning submitted its report to the House.
The Speaker of the House, Jumoke Akindele, adopted the motion and declared the deputy governor impeached and removed from office.
She gave a directive that all the government property in possession of the deputy governor be handed over to the permanent secretary in the office of the deputy governor.
Meanwhile, two members of the House belonging to the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Gbenga Edema and Fola Olasehinde, were absent at the sitting.
The Ondo state commissioner for agriculture, Lasisi Oluboyo, has been appointed the new deputy governor in Ondo state following the impeachment of Olanusi by the state House of Assembly.
Meanwhile the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, who is reported to have been impeached, has warned that there is a subsisting court order that the status quo be maintained in respect of that office.
In effect, the Deputy Governor insists he has not legally been removed from office.
According to his lawyer, Oluwole Kayode, the court order was granted last Thursday, April 23rd, and he emphasized that it touches and affects the office and the holder.
“Another action in respect of the same office and the impeachment process is pending in court and will come up on the 7th of May 2015,” he said, noting that that the hurried nature of the impeachment process is suspect.
“I think public office holders and people who are put in position to defend the constitution must be law abiding,” Mr. Oluwole said. “In the light of this disobedience to court order and the impunity displayed in the course of the impeachment proceedings, the Deputy Governor is on solid ground.”
Two days before the March 28 presidential election Olanusi defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC)from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Only last week, apparently due to his defection to the APC, the deputy governor was assaulted by suspected thugs who tried to stop him from entering the state Government House.
Monday’s plenary session was attended by 24 out of the 26 members of the House, including the Speaker, all in support of the impeachment, Channels TV reports.
The impeachment motion was moved by the majority leader, Henry Akinsoyinu, who revealed that the seven impeachable offences of gross misconduct and abuse of office levelled against the deputy governor have been proved.
The motion was seconded by the deputy majority leader, Oyebo Aladetan.
The seven man panel of investigation set up by the state chief judge, Olasehinde Kumuyi, chaired by Olatunji Adeniyan, had earlier in the morning submitted its report to the House.
The Speaker of the House, Jumoke Akindele, adopted the motion and declared the deputy governor impeached and removed from office.
She gave a directive that all the government property in possession of the deputy governor be handed over to the permanent secretary in the office of the deputy governor.
Meanwhile, two members of the House belonging to the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Gbenga Edema and Fola Olasehinde, were absent at the sitting.
The Ondo state commissioner for agriculture, Lasisi Oluboyo, has been appointed the new deputy governor in Ondo state following the impeachment of Olanusi by the state House of Assembly.
Meanwhile the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, who is reported to have been impeached, has warned that there is a subsisting court order that the status quo be maintained in respect of that office.
In effect, the Deputy Governor insists he has not legally been removed from office.
According to his lawyer, Oluwole Kayode, the court order was granted last Thursday, April 23rd, and he emphasized that it touches and affects the office and the holder.
“Another action in respect of the same office and the impeachment process is pending in court and will come up on the 7th of May 2015,” he said, noting that that the hurried nature of the impeachment process is suspect.
“I think public office holders and people who are put in position to defend the constitution must be law abiding,” Mr. Oluwole said. “In the light of this disobedience to court order and the impunity displayed in the course of the impeachment proceedings, the Deputy Governor is on solid ground.”
Two days before the March 28 presidential election Olanusi defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC)from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Only last week, apparently due to his defection to the APC, the deputy governor was assaulted by suspected thugs who tried to stop him from entering the state Government House.
