The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an application by the Ondo State House of Assembly Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, and other lawmakers seeking the impeachment of the state’s Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
On Thursday, the panel of justices at the Court of Appeal dismissed the application after the lawmakers withdrew it, citing the “interest of peace.”
Justice Haruna Tsammani, who led the panel, declared, “The appeal, having been withdrawn, is hereby dismissed.”
The Speaker’s legal team, led by Dr. Remi Peter O., announced the withdrawal, stating, “On behalf of the appellants, we are here to withdraw this appeal. The instruction to this effect was given to us yesterday (Wednesday), and we have filed this morning the notice of withdrawal. In the interest of peace, we seek to withdraw this appeal.”
A.A. Adewusi, counsel for the deputy governor, confirmed receiving the notice of withdrawal. The counsel for the Department of State Services (DSS), I. Awo, also acknowledged the notice. Counsel for the remaining respondents confirmed service of the withdrawal notice and indicated no objection.
The lawmakers had withdrawn their application seeking to set aside the Federal High Court in Akure’s interim injunction preventing impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor during Governor Rotimi Akeredolu’s extended medical absence.
After issuing the impeachment notice on September 20, the lawmakers sought an accelerated hearing of their motion against Aiyedatiwa. However, Aiyedatiwa obtained an interim injunction on September 26, preventing any impeachment actions.
The respondents included the Inspector General of Police, State Security Services, Governor Akeredolu, and the Chief Judge of Ondo State. Aiyedatiwa argued that the Federal High Court’s decision created a constitutional crisis regarding its jurisdiction over time-sensitive legislative processes.
