Court restrains Oyo Assembly from impeaching deputy governor

The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan on Wednesday ordered the state House of Assembly to suspend the impeachment move against the Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan.

Justice Ladiran Akintola ruled that the lawmakers should maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the application for interlocutory injunction filed by Mr Olaniyan’s counsel, Afolabi Fashanu (SAN).

The judge, thereafter, adjourned the case until Thursday, for the hearing of the respondent’s reply.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Olaniyan instituted the suit against the House of Assembly, the Clerk, and the Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, over the impeachment action against him by the lawmakers.

Mr Fashanu had earlier filed an application for an interim injunction restraining the Assembly from taking any step pursuant to the impeachment of the applicant.

He prayed the court to rule that the status quo should be maintained, pending the hearing, so that the application would not be defeated

Counsel to the respondents, A. A. Olabiyi, orally applied to the court for an extension of time to respond to the motion.

Mr Olabiyi said that he was served the motion on notice at the close of work on Tuesday.

NAN recalls that following the defection of the deputy governor from the Peoples Democratic Party to All Progressives Congress, subsequently the legislative initiated impeachment moves against him two weeks ago.

He was accused of financial recklessness, gross misconduct, and insubordination, among other allegations. (NAN)

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