Impeachment: Ondo Assembly Counsel Denies Petition Against Judge

There was a mild drama at the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, as counsel to the Ondo House of Assembly, F. E. Emodamori, denied being the author of a petition written against Justice Emeka Nwite at the National Judicial Council (NJC).

Emodamori, who appeared for the state assembly and its speaker, Olamide Oladiji, refuted the allegation levelled against him by Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN, lawyer to the embattled Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Nwite had, on Sept. 26, restrained the Ondo State assembly and its speaker from impeaching Aiyedatiwa, over alleged gross misconduct pending the hearing and determination of the interlocutory application.

The judge gave the interim order in a ruling shortly after Kayode Adewusi, counsel who appeared for Aiyedatiwa, moved the ex-parte motion to the effect.

The judge also restrained Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu from nominating a new deputy governor and forwarding the name of the same to the lawmakers for an approval as the state’s new deputy governor based on a letter of resignation purportedly authored or signed by Aiyedatiwa.

The deputy governor had, in an ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023, sued the Inspector-General (I-G) of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS).

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

In the application dated and filed by Adelanke Akinrata on Sept. 21, Aiyedatiwa sought for four reliefs.

The judge, after granting the reliefs, fixed today for hearing of the motion on notice.

Upon resumed hearing yesterday, Adegboruwa informed the court of the development of the matter.

He said on October 6, the All Progressives Congress (APC) set up a reconciliation committee headed by former Katsina State governor to settle the issues.

“In line with extant practice and procedure of this honourable court to encourage parties to promote settlement, it is our humble view that the court allows and encourages the reconciliation effort as the continued prosecution of this suit may be hostile to those efforts,” he said.

Besides, Adegboruwa said on Oct. 3, the speaker and the assembly (4th and 6th defendants) submitted a petition to NJC “accusing this very court of compromise and deploying all manners of unprintable epithets against the court.”

He said the petition is still pending before the NJC

“The consequence of that petition is to express lack of confidence in this honourable court.

“And if the allegations are investigated and found to be correct God forbid, the consequence will be that this court may not be in the position to proceed on the determination of this suit,” he said.

The senior lawyer, therefore, prayed the court to direct the speaker and the assembly, through their counsel, Emodamori, to serve all parties in the suit with the said petition in order for them to respond too.

He also prayed the court to direct them to stop further attack on the judge

“I watched on television news where they described my lord as ‘a certain judge,’” he said.

Adegboruwa said that the derogatory comment was also confirmed in a letter dated Sept. 29 and authored by Emodamori to the state’s chief judge.

He, therefore, urged the court to adjourn the suit sine die (indefinitely) to await the outcomes of the APC reconciliatory effort and the petition file to the NJC.

But Kassim Gbadamosi (SAN), counsel to Akeredolu, who objected to indefinite adjournment, said Ondo State was not a one-party state.

He said the APC’s move was only to reconcile Akeredolu and Aiyedatiwa which did not affect other political parties which made up the assembly. NAN)