Engr Rauf Olaniyan, the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, has petitioned the state High Court to halt the impeachment procedure started by the State House of Assembly.
The deputy governor was accused of “severe misconduct, abuse of power, financial recklessness, abandonment of office, official duty, insubordination and other offences,” according to a petition signed by 24 of the State House of Assembly’s 32 members.
According to the petitioner, this procedure complies with the 2011 amendments to the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution. Article 188.
According to reliable sources, the Deputy Governor has addressed each accusation made in the petition by means of legal representation.
This development has been confirmed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Kazeem Olayanju.
Olayanju disclosed this in an interview session on an Ibadan-based popular radio station. He said the house has received the response of the deputy governor on the allegations levelled against him and it will be discussed when the House reconvenes on Wednesday today.
According to the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper, the development took another dimension on Tuesday when Olaniyan approached the court with prayers, seeking the order of the court to stop the House of Assembly from carrying on with the impeachment process.
The case came up before Justice Ladiran Akintola at High Court 7, Ring Road, Ibadan on Tuesday, and has been adjourned till Wednesday.
The Deputy Governor was represented in court by his legal counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN.
Adjourning the case, the court ordered that the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, and the clerk be put on notice about the litigation. As gathered, the duo have been served the court processes on Tuesday afternoon.