Court halts impeachment proceeding against Olaniyan, Oyo deputy gov

Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, on Wednesday ordered the state House of Assembly to suspend the impeachment proceeding against the Deputy Governor of the state, Rauf Olaniyan.

Justice Akintola ruled that the lawmakers should maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the application for interlocutory injunction filed by Olaniyan’s counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN).

The judge, thereafter, adjourned the case until Tuesday, for the hearing of the respondent’s reply.

Olaniyan instituted the suit against the House of Assembly, the Clerk and the Speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, over the impeachment action against him by the lawmakers.

Fashanu had earlier filed an application for interim injunction restraining the Assembly from taking any step in pursuant of the impeachment of the applicant.

He prayed the court to rule that status quo should be maintained, pending the hearing, so that the application would not be defeated.

Counsel to the respondents, Mr A. A. Olabiyi, orally applied to the court for extension of time to respond to the motion.

Olabiyi said that he was served the motion on notice at the close of work on Tuesday.

The lawmakers initiated impeachment moves against the deputy governor two weeks ago, following his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He was accused of financial recklessness, gross misconduct and insubordination, among other allegations.

Source: NAN