The Ondo State House of Assembly on Tuesday mentioned the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had failed to reply to the letter of Notice served on him on Sept. 25 over allegations of gross misconduct.
The Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, mentioned the letter of Notice was obtained on behalf of Mr Aiyedatiwa by his Chief Protocol Officer.
Speaking on the plenary session in Akure, Mr Oladiji mentioned the home decision that the deputy governor must be duly served a Notice of the allegations, was in keeping with Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution.
“Concerted efforts were made to serve the Notice on the deputy governor, who for some time was not available for the service, prompting the House to approach the court for a substituted service on the deputy governor.
“On 25th of September, a substituted service of the Notice of allegations was made on the deputy governor duly signed by more than one-third Honourable Members of the House as required by the Constitution in Section 188 Sub-section 2,” he acknowledged.
According to him, the Constitution stipulates that the meeting ought to watch for seven days for the embattled deputy governor to reply which has lapse.
The speaker directed the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olusegun Odusola, to instantly arrange a seven-man panel to examine the deputy governor on the allegations levelled towards him.
“Distinguished colleagues, Section 188 of the Constitution states further that the deputy governor has 7 days within which to reply to the allegations levelled against him.
“The Constitution states further that within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Judge of the state shall at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly appoint a panel of seven persons.
“Distinguished colleagues, I, therefore, wish to seek your opinion to direct the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Hon. Justice Olusegun Odusola, to in line with this section of the Constitution, set up a seven-man panel to investigate the deputy governor on the allegations levelled against him,” he mentioned.
The House, with accessible 23 out of 26 members on the plenary session via voice vote, gave a nod for the chief decide to constitute the panel.
Earlier, the Majority Leader, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, (Owo 1-APC), moved the movement for the Notice on the Ondo State Impeachment Panel Procedure Rules that the panel be constituted by the chief decide of the state.
The movement was seconded by Felix Afe (Akoko North West 2-PDP).
NAN
