Ondo Speaker, three others to be arraigned for contempt of court

Following the alleged disregard of court order over the refusal to reinstate four suspended members of the Ondo State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Hon. Bamidele Oleyeloogun and three other members of the Assembly will be arraigned before the State High Court on December 17, 2020 for contempt of court.

Those to be arraigned include the Speaker, the Clerk of the Assembly, Bode Adeyelu, the Parliamentary Secretary, Abayomi Akinruntan and the Deputy-Majority Leader, Olamide Oladiji.

The Assembly had suspended four lawmakers: Iroju Ogundeji, Adewale Williams, Mrs Favour Tomomewo and Tomide Akinribido over alleged gross misconduct.

The affected lawmakers however challenged the action in court and the court ruled in their favour and ordered their reinstatement.

The leadership of the Assembly went on appeal and asked for a stay of execution, which the court dismissed.

Also, a Federal High Court, sitting in Akure, state capital on Wednesday ordered the arrest of six members of the Assembly for their absence in court in a case between the State Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi and the Assembly.

Mr. Ajayi had approached the court to sue the Assembly over alleged infringement on his right to political beliefs.

The presiding judge, Justice Abdul Dogo, said the court had powers to order the arrests, saying the case was being heard for the third time but that the six lawmakers who were defendants in the case, had refused to appear in court.

He ordered the state Commissioner of Police to carry out the order and bring the six lawmakers to the court on the next adjourned date. He adjourned the case till February 15, 2021.