The Ondo State House of Assembly has denied reports that it has halted the impeachment process of Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
Majority Leader of the Assembly, Hon Olawole Ogunmolasuyi, said in an interview on Friday night that the Assembly had not received any official letter from the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress on the reconciliation committee led by former Katsina State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Masari.
He also said that the Assembly had not met with the Masari-led committee.
Ogunmolasuyi asserted that the APC cannot stop the Assembly from carrying out its oversight functions because there were lawmakers from opposition political parties in the Assembly.
He said the Assembly would follow due process in investigating Aiyedatiwa.
The lawmaker also said that the Assembly obeyed the Federal High Court order which restrained it from further investigation of Aiyedatiwa.
Spokesperson of the assembly, Olatunji Oshati, had earlier informed newsmen that the lawmakers complied with the order and halted further proceedings on the impeachment.
He said, “It is not about being arrogant with power, it is about holding public officers accountable.
“It also shows that the process of impeachment transcends the monopoly of the legislature as we can see that the judiciary has stalled it.”
Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olusegun Odusola, had declined to set up a panel to investigate allegations raised against Aiyedatiwa because of the court order.
“I am not unmindful of S. 188(10) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended which provides as follows: ‘No proceedings or determination of the Panel or of the House of Assembly or any matter relating to such proceeding or determination shall be entertained or questioned in any court.
“Notwithstanding the above provision, a Court order is binding until set aside either by a Court of coordinate jurisdiction or by an appellate court,” he said.
