High Court stops Assembly from impeaching Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa

On Tuesday, a Federal High Court in Abuja stopped the Ondo State House of Assembly from impeaching Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa over suspected serious misconduct.

Shortly after Kayode Adewusi, the attorney for Aiyedatiwa, brought the ex-parte motion, Justice Emeka Nwite issued the decision.

In addition, the judge barred Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from proposing a new deputy governor and sending it to the legislature for approval until the hearing and resolution of the main issue.

After hearing Adewusi, Justice Nwite declared that he believed that allowing the application would serve the interests of justice.

“Therefore, the application of the applicant succeeds,” he said.

The embattled deputy governor had, in a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023, sued the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services.

Others are Akeredoku, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Ondo State, and the House of Assembly as 1st to 6th respondents respectively.

Aiyedatiwa requested four reliefs in the application, which was submitted by Mr. Adelanke Akinrata on September 21.

The judge also issued a temporary injunction prohibiting Akeredolu, his employees, or privies from intimidating, harassing, or discouraging Aiyedatiwa from performing his duties as the deputy governor of the Ondo state.

The case was postponed until October 9 for a hearing by Justice Nwite, who granted all of the reliefs.

In a separate lawsuit filed on Monday, Aiyedatiwa requested that the High Court in Akure halt the State House of Assembly's attempt to impeach him while the case was heard and decided. The petition was designated AK/348/2023.

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