Ondo Assembly reinstates suspended lawmakers

Ondo State House of Assembly on Monday reinstated four legislators who were suspended for alleged gross misconduct.

The affected members are former deputy speaker Iroju Ogundeji and three other members — Adewale Williams, Favour Tomomewo, and Tomide Akinrinbido.

The four legislators were among the nine lawmakers that opposed the impeachment notice served on Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi in June.

The affected lawmakers had challenged their suspension in court and got judgements in their favour both at the High Court and Court of Appeal.

Speaker Bamidele Oleyelogun said during plenary on Monday that the four suspended lawmakers were axed in line with the provisions of the rules and standing orders of the House at the parliamentary sitting and ratified at the plenary.

He said, “Surprisingly, the House was not served with these judgements until recently. But because their suspension was done at plenary, the House based on its regulatory proceedings had to consider the judgement at its parliamentary where a resolution to seek the advice of the Judiciary and Legal Committee on the court judgement was reached.

“The House Committee on Judiciary and the Legal Department had advised that the House should obey the judgement for peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationship between the judiciary and the legislature.”