Ondo Assembly begins impeachment process of deputy governor

Ondo State House of Assembly have commenced the process of impeaching the state Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over an allegation of gross misconduct.

This is following an emergency plenary session summoned by the House of Assembly on Wednesday, with heavy security men at the Assembly gate.

A petition detailing the allegations against Mr Aiyedatiwa and signed by nine out of the 26 members of the House was presented to members at an emergency plenary presided over by the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji.

A source disclosed that the Deputy Governor is under investigation for alleged gross misuse of office and might be eased out of office through impeachment.

According to the source, trouble started when Aiyedatiwa reportedly approved N300 million to purchase a bulletproof SUV for his personal use.

The source said the approval was allegedly given while the state Governor was recuperating in Germany and was approved without the governor’s knowledge.

He said the Deputy Governor further complicated matters when he ordered that the N300 million should be sourced from the Palliative fund.

At a plenary session, the majority leader of the House, Wole Ogunmolasuyi, quoted Section 188 of the constitution to justify the need to write Aiyedatiwa over the allegations.

The motion was seconded by Tope Agbulu, a lawmaker representing Akoko Southwest II.

However, the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, directed Benjamin Jaiyeola, the clerk of the House, to write the deputy governor, informing him of the allegations levelled against him.