The Ondo State House of Assembly, on Monday, finally served an impeachment notice on the State’s Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
Aiyedatiwa had earlier on Monday said he was yet to receive any official communication or any “letter of allegations of gross misconduct” from the Ondo State House of Assembly.
In a statement he issued and made available to journalists in Akure, the state capital, the embattled Deputy Governor said: “My attention has been drawn to claims made by the Ondo State House of Assembly, through its member and Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Honourable Olatunji Oshati, on national television to the extent that I have been served with notice of acts of gross misconduct.
“On Thursday, 21st September 2023, Hon Olatunji Oshati was a guest on Channels Television Programme “Politics Today”, where he stated that I have been served with notice of allegations of gross misconduct by the House of Assembly of Ondo State.
“His statement and television interview came after various news reports that the House of Assembly had, on Wednesday, September 20, 2023, decided to send a “letter of allegations of gross misconduct” to me, following a purported petition by some members of the House. Hon. Oshati also claimed that I have been given seven days to respond to the said allegations.
“It is pertinent to put on record that as of today, Monday, September 25, 2023, I have not received any official communication or any “letter of allegations of gross misconduct” from the Ondo State House of Assembly.
“I find it especially worrying that the spokesman of the House of Assembly would go on national television to speak on such a matter without any evidence to show that such letter has been delivered to me. More disturbing is the fact that even when he was asked if the letter had been delivered, he gave no coherent answer.
“A sensitive constitutional matter of this nature; the impeachment process should not be conducted on the pages of newspapers and television screens.
“In effect, I reiterate that if such “letter of allegations of gross misconduct” against me exists, I have not seen it and I have not been served. I therefore urge Mr. Speaker, The Honourable Chief Judge of Ondo State, and members of the public to take note.”
But the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji, said Aiyedatiwa was served on Monday through substituted service.
According to Oladiji, since Wednesday, September 20, “we have been trying our best to see how we can get him served, but we were not able to achieve that, now we have to go through the court.
“We got an affidavit from the court through substituted service, so he has been served through his office. It was received by his secretary.
“Although people are sending me messages to suppress me, I am not under any pressure, except the threats. This is a legislative assignment.”
