By Babatunde Solanke
Ondo State House of Assembly has called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Oluwakayode Ariwoola, to set up panel after the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, disregarded the impeachment notice he was served in response to allegations of gross misconduct.
Following this development, the Assembly called Ariwoola to constitute a panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct against the deputy governor.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, explained that the notice served on Aiyedatiwa was received by his Chief Protocol Officer.
According to Oladiji, the action was undertaken in accordance with Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, which stipulates the necessary procedures for such matters.
Oladiji further explained that despite making concerted efforts to deliver the notice to the deputy governor, he was unavailable for service.
The Speaker maintained further that the Assembly had to resort to legal measures, seeking a court order for substituted service on the deputy governor.
“On the 25th of September, a substituted service of the notice of allegations was made to the deputy governor, duly signed by more than one-third of the Honourable Members of the House as required by the Constitution in Section 188 Sub-section 2,” he said.
According to him, the Constitution stipulates that the Assembly should wait for seven days for the embattled deputy governor to respond, which has lapsed.