The Oyo State House of Assembly has directed the chief judge of the state to set up a panel to investigate the deputy governor, Rauf Olaniyan, over allegations of gross misconduct, vetoing a court order that status quo be maintained on the impeachment proceedings.
The court had adjourned till Wednesday to hear the originating summons and interlocutory injunctions brought by Olaniyan.
Although the court had adjourned till Wednesday to hear Olaniyan’s interlocutory injunctions brought despite a fresh application submitted to the court by a lawmaker representing Orelope state constituency, Lateef Adebunmi as a co-defendant in the matter.
However, both counsels to the assembly and deputy governor held separate views on the application with emphasis that the applicant was not relevant to the matter.
Adebunmi’s counsel, Sunday Aborishade told the court that not granting the application to be joined in the matter before hearing the substantive suit by the court would amount to injustice and denial of fair hearing, noting that the implications of the matter had been deposited before the court.
The case, however, got another twist when counsel to Olaniyan called the attention of the court to the online reports on the directive of the Oyo Assembly to the CJ to set up the panel.
Meanwhile, the CJ has ordered a recess to write his rulings on the application by the lawmaker to be joined as fourth defendant in suit.
Written by Adekunle Biodun