Justice Ladiran Akintola of an Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan has dismissed the suit filed by the Deputy Governor of the state, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan, to stop the state House of Assembly from removing him.
The lawmakers had last month initiated an impeachment move against Olaniyan.
24 out of the 32 members of the State House of Assembly had in a petition accused the deputy governor of “gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial recklessness, abandonment of office, official duty, insubordination and other offences.”
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The petition read: “This process, according to petitioners, is in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended in 2011. Section 188.”
The deputy governor responded to all the allegations raised in the petition through his legal counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN.
Olaniyan subsequently went to court to challenge the move to oust him.
While delivering the judgment on Thursday, the court held that the House of Assembly did not breach any provision of the constitution in the attempt to remove a governor or deputy governor.
According to the court, the lawmakers substantially complied with the provisions of Section 188 of the Constitution on the removal process.
The judge said the originating summons filed by the claimant was purely legislative procedure and not judicial.
Meanwhile, the embattled Deputy Governor has challenged the judgment of the Oyo State High Court.
Confirming the development to Daily Trust after the High Court judgment, Counsel to Olaniyan, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), said he has filed applications for notice of appeal and stay of execution of the judgment delivered by the lower court.
