The Ondo House of Assembly has asked the State Chief Judge, Olusegun Odusola, to form a panel of inquiry to probe charges of gross misconduct lodged against the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
This followed the Deputy Governor’s refusal to react to the letter of gross misconduct served on him on 25 September through his chief protocol officer.
Remember that the House of Assembly began the impeachment process against Aiyedatiwa last week, issuing him with a notice containing 14 allegations touching on gross misconduct.
After the letter of gross misconduct was first issued, the Deputy Governor was unavailable to receive it, prompting the House to approach the court for a substituted service of the notice on him.
However, after the substituted service was effected, the House noted that the Deputy Governor still refused to respond.
Speaker of the House, Olamide Oladiji, explained that Section 188 of the Constitution states that the Deputy Governor has 7 days to reply to any allegation levelled against him, failing which the Chief Judge shall at the request of the Speaker appoint a panel to investigate the allegations.
He remarked that upon the conclusion of its investigation and within 3 three months after its inauguration, the panel shall submit its report to the House of Assembly.
Earlier, while moving the motion, the majority leader, Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, noted that the process is in line with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 as amended.
The motion was seconded by the lawmaker representing Akure South State Constituency 1, Johnson Oguntodu.