The nine members of the Ondo State House of Assembly who are opposing the purported impeachment of the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Agboola Ajayi have further disassociated themselves from the plan.
In a letter addressed to the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olarenwaju Akeredolu dated 9th July 2020, the lawmakers urged the Chief Judge to operate within the ambit of the law.
The lawmakers are Iroju Ogundeji (Deputy Speaker), Hon. Jamiu Sulaiman Maito, Hon. Rasheed Olalekan Elegbeleye, Hon. Tomide Leonard Akinribido and Hon. Samuel Edamisan Ademola.
Others are Hon. Favour Semilore Tomomewo, Hon. Festus Akingbaso, Hon. Adewale Williams Adewinle and Hon. Torhukerhijo Success.
The lawmakers in an open letter stated that the impeachment notice signed by the 14 out of the 26 lawmakers of the Assembly did not meet the required two-thirds majority needed for such exercise.
Recall that the Assembly had sent a notice of impeachment to the Deputy Governor following the signatories of 14 members of the Assembly as nine lawmakers moved against the plan.
Three out of the nine lawmakers have been suspended by the leadership of the house over what was described as unparliamentary behaviour.
The lawmakers said they are notifying the Chief Judge based on the plans by the leadership of the House to suspend some of them in order to carry out the illegal act.
The letter read “Kindly be informed that Nine (9) underlisted elected Honourable Members of Ondo State House of Assembly have duly disassociated ourselves from the ongoing impeachment process of the Deputy Governor, H.E (HON) Agboola Afred Ajayi in a letter dated 7th July, 2020, to the clerk and the Rt Honourable Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly herewith attached.
“We want to state and confirm to your good office that we maintain our stand by dissociating ourselves from the impeachment process. We are not in support of the impeachment based on our personal conviction.
“We are rest assured that your lordship will uphold section 188 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) particularly section 188 (3)(4)(5)-(11)
“It is equally worthy of note that the total membership of Ondo State House of Assembly is (26) twenty six in which the 2/3 is 18, AND THIS REMAINS THE CONSTITUTIONALLY REQUIRED NUMBER IRRESPECTIVE OF ANY ARBITRARY SUSPENSION
“We are writing to call your attention to the fact that all or some of us who are signatories to this letter may be suspended in order to circumvent the provision of the Constitution of Nigeria, which we all swore to uphold and protect, including your honourable Lordship, as this will be contrary to the laws of the land
