Federal High Court in Abuja Issues Injunction Preventing Ondo Deputy Governor’s Impeachment

By Iyojo Ameh

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court issued an injunction on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, preventing the Ondo House of Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment of Deputy Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The court’s decision was made following an ex-parte motion presented by Mr. Aiyedatiwa’s lawyer, Kayode Adewusi, and was delivered by Justice Emeka Nwite.

Justice Nwite’s ruling also restrained Governor Rotimi Akeredolu from nominating a new deputy governor and forwarding the nomination to the lawmakers for approval until the substantive matter is heard and determined.

The embattled deputy governor had filed a motion on notice (FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023) against the inspector general of police, the State Security Service (SSS), Governor Akeredolu, the speaker of the Ondo parliament, the Ondo chief judge, and the assembly as respondents. In this application, Mr. Aiyedatiwa sought four reliefs.

Justice Nwite further ordered an interim injunction, preventing Governor Akeredolu and his associates from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing, or obstructing Mr. Aiyedatiwa from performing his duties as deputy governor of Ondo.

The court has scheduled the substantive hearing for October 9, 2023.

In a related legal action, Mr. Aiyedatiwa has also filed a suit (AK/348/2023) in the Akure Division of the Ondo High Court, seeking to halt the assembly’s impeachment proceedings against him pending the outcome of the case filed in court on Monday. The legal proceedings surrounding Deputy Governor Aiyedatiwa’s impeachment are expected to draw significant attention in the coming weeks as they continue to unfold.