HomeImpeachment Suit: Sacked Ondo Deputy Speaker Demands Change of Judge

Impeachment Suit: Sacked Ondo Deputy Speaker Demands Change of Judge

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A former Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr Iroju Ogundeji, has called on the newly-appointed Chief Judge of the state, Justice Williams Akintoroye, to re-assign the suit he filed to challenge his impeachment to another judge.

Ogundeji’s suit is being handled by Justice Akintoroye.

But the embattled lawmaker said with Justice Akintoroye’s elevation to position of Chief Judge, he was no longer confident of getting justice in the case.

Ogundeji, who represents the Odigbo Constituency 1 in the state House of Assembly, was removed as the deputy speaker of the Assembly on allegation of gross misconduct. He was immediately replaced with Mr Samuel Aderoboye from Odigbo Constituency 2.

In a letter, titled, ‘Request for transfer of case’ sent to Justice Akintoroye, Ogundeji said, “I  wish to humbly request for the transfer of my case from Your Lordship’s court to another court for a number of reasons:

“The recent elevation and appointment of Your Lordship as the Chief Judge will preoccupy Your Lordship with a lot of administrative duties, which will definitely hamper the speedy prosecution of the case. Your Lordship emphatically mentioned in the open court when Your Lordship said that you hope the case will end at the end of the new legal year. A case that had been filed on 1st of December, 2020, that is the time-bound, yet to be heard!

Your Lordship expressly praised the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly and his estranged deputy during Your Lordship’s confirmation on Tuesday, 28th of September, 2021 – the occupier of a position that is in contention before Your Lordship. Your Lordship expressly mentioned that the House was stable in recent times because of the harmony between the Speaker and the disputed Deputy Speaker. The House that is divided against itself will never hold. Your Lordship proceeded to state that affliction will not rise in the House of Assembly the second time. The express interpretation of this statement is a direct reference to my estranged relationship with the Speaker as his deputy, whose unlawful impeachment case is pending before Your Lordship.

“The Speaker of the ODHA, Bamidele Oleyelogun, and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who are defendants and counsel in the matter boasted to me that my case had been settled with Your Lordship, more so when Your Lordship promised to work in harmony with the House on the floor of the House of Assembly during your confirmation ceremony.

“Consequently, I am not confident that I will get justice from Your Lordship’s court, coupled with incessant adjournments since December 1, 2020.”

Punch editorial

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