Appeal Court reinstates sacked Ondo deputy speaker, Ogundeji

The Federal Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State has upturned the removal of the former Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon. Iroju Ogundeji.

Ogundeji was reinstated by the unanimous ruling of the court, which overturned the Assembly’s order removing him earlier.

Justices Oyebisi Folayemi Omoleye, Frederick Oziakpono-Oho, and Yusuf Alhaji Bashir rendered the decision, upholding Justice Akintan Osadebey’s earlier ruling.

Ogundeji was previously reinstated by Justice Osadebey after the former Speaker, Hon. David Bamidele Oleyeloogun, had suspended him and removed him from office.

Ogundeji, who represented the Odigbo State Constituency, was dismissed as Deputy Speaker and suspended from the Assembly for the remaining part of his term.

The Assembly filed an appeal after being unhappy with the lower court’s ruling. It claimed that procedural problems prevented the court from having jurisdiction.

The appellate court upheld the unconstitutionality of Ogundeji’s removal, dismissing the Assembly’s appeal.

The court therefore declared Aderoboye’s appointment to be a nullity, ordered Ogundeji to be reinstated, have all of his benefits paid up to date, and have his office paraphilia promptly restored.

As a result, Judge Osadebey granted N10 million in compensation for the legislator’s alleged humiliation during his impeachment and suspension from the Assembly.

The appellate court further invalidated all of the Assembly’s arguments and mandated that the legislator receive all of his dues as both the ninth Assembly’s deputy speaker and a lawmaker.