The Court of Appeal in Akure has upheld the judgment of a lower court, reinstating Hon. Iroju Ogundeji as the Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly. The court described the purported removal of Ogundeji on November 24, 2020, as illegal, null, and void.
The court held that the removal did not follow constitutional requirements, including a two-thirds majority of members, and that Ogundeji was not given a fair hearing. The judges also ruled that there was no parliamentary resolution before the impeachment and that not all members were present as required by the rules of the Assembly and the 1999 constitution.
The court ordered Ogundeji’s reinstatement, payment of all entitlements up-to-date, and restoration of his paraphernalia of office. The appointment of Aderoboye as Deputy Speaker was described as a nullity, and N10 million was awarded as damages for Ogundeji’s humiliation during his purported impeachment and suspension.
The Court of Appeal’s ruling dismissed the Assembly’s appeal and ordered the payment of Ogundeji’s entitlements as a lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the ninth Assembly.
