Impeachment process of Ondo State Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, by the state House of Assembly suffered a setback as the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Olanrewaju Akeredolu, rejected the Assembly’s letter requesting her to constitute a panel to investigate allegations levelled against the state’s number two man.
On Tuesday, the Assembly, during its plenary, served the deputy governor notice of impeachment following an allegation of gross misconduct.
Fourteen members of the Assembly signed the notice while nine opposed the impeachment process.
But the deputy governor said he had yet to be served the notice while the Assembly insisted that he had been served.
The state’s chief judge, in a letter personally signed by her, said the House had not completed the constitutional process that would make her set up an investigative panel.
The CJ’s letter, which has gone viral, is entitled, ‘Re: Request to set up 7-man panel pursuant to Section 188(5) of 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).’
Justice Akeredolu added that the matter was already a subject of litigation in court.
The letter partly read, “The Honourable members of the House of Assembly have not completed the constitutional process that would lead your (Speaker) very good self to invite my humble self to set up a panel of 7 to investigate the allegation of gross misconduct as stipulated in the constitution.
“Furthermore, I wish to bring to your notice a copy of letter which I received earlier today (Thursday) from Kayode Olagoke SAN, which tells me clearly that the matter of impeachment of Hon. Alfred Agboola Ajayi, Deputy Governor of Ondo State is sub judice.”