Twenty-three members of the Oyo state House of Assembly on Wednesday approved a motion directing the state’s chief judge to appoint a seven-member panel to investigate allegations of serious misconduct made against the state’s deputy governor, Rauf Olaniyan.
The motion, co-sponsored by Majority Leader Sanjo Adedoyin (Ogbomoso South) and Akintunde Olajide, representing the Lagelu state constituency, said the panel should report to the Assembly in three months.
the Nigerian News Agency (NAN) he recalls that on June 17, a correspondence/petition entitled: “Notice of Allegations of Serious Misconduct Against Oyo State Deputy Governor Mr. Rauf Olaniyan” was read in plenary.
In the petition, the 23 members accused the lieutenant governor of gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial imprudence, desertion of office and insubordination.
The legislators later provided the lieutenant governor and all other members of the legislature with a copy of the allegations.
While reading the motion, Adedoyin said that so far, the deputy governor has not responded to the accusations made against him by the assembly.
The motion stated: “With this development, the House should invoke the provision specified in Section 188(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
“Pursuant to the provision of Section 188 (4) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) request the Chief Justice of Oyo State to appoint a seven-person panel of unquestioned integrity to investigate allegations of serious misconduct against Mr. Rauf Olaniyan.
“And the panel must report its findings to the House within three months of being appointed. ”
Commenting, the Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, said that the problem was no longer in the Assembly, since it was handed over to the Chief Judge of the State, Muntar Abimbola.
Ogundoyin said: “We have nothing to say, whether Olaniyan is guilty or not. The question will be determined by the seven members who will constitute the Chief Judge of the state.
“We are only working according to the Constitution. Once the report is submitted within or at the expiration of the three months, that is what we are going to act on.
“We are not in a position to judge in this case. We will ensure that due process is followed.
“The vote was unanimous and we will await the outcome of the panel’s report and investigation.”
The legislators, therefore, postponed the plenary session until July 19.
court case
NAN recalls that the Lieutenant Governor had jointly taken the state House of Assembly, Mr. Ogundoyin, and the Secretary of the House to court over the impeachment action against him by lawmakers.
The claimant’s lawyer, Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), said he received the defendants’ scanned response to his earlier filed application on Saturday.
Mr. Fashanu had previously filed an application for an interim injunction restraining the House from taking any action under the impeachment claim.
Meanwhile, the Chamber’s lawyer, Kunle Kalejaiye (SAN), said he delivered his response to the plaintiff’s request on Friday.
Kalejaiye said that deferring the case for too long would delay the House in carrying out its constitutional duties.
Thereafter, Judge Ladiran Akintola granted a brief adjournment until Wednesday to allow the plaintiff to deliver his response to the interlocutory injunction and the defendants’ summons of origin.
However, he ruled that the state House of Assembly should maintain the status quo in the impeachment process. (NAN)