Akure High Court in Ondo state has quashed the suspension of four members of Ondo State House of Assembly who refused to sign the impeachment notice of the state Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi.
The suspended members include Deputy Speaker, Mr Ogundeji Iroju, the only female member in the assembly, Mrs Favour Tomomowo, Mr Wale Williams, and Mr Tomide Akinribido.
Recall that the anti-impeachment lawmakers were suspended for refusing to sign the impeachment notice served on deputy governor who defected from All Progressives Congress(APC) to Peoples Democratic Party.
Their refusal and that of five others stalled the plan to illegally impeach the Deputy Governor.
Three of the suspended lawmakers; Ogundeji, Tomomowo, and Williams are members of APC, while Akinribido is the only Zenith Labour Party(ZLP) member in the assembly.
Dissatisfied with their suspension by the assembly led by Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun, the suspended lawmakers through their lawyer, Mr Banjo Ayenakin, sought protection of the court against their unlawful suspension from the House.
In his judgment, Presiding Judge, Mr Ademola Bola described the suspension as illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
Bola held that the House of Assembly as well as other members have no power to suspend any member of the Assembly.
He said that “the suit which has the House of Assembly, the Speaker, Deputy Majority Leader, Oladiji Olamide Adesanmi, the Parliamentary Secretary,, Abayomi Akinruntan, and the Clerk of the House, Mr Bode Adeyelu, as defendants violates sections 90, 91, 106 and 117 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria.
Bola held that the lawmakers must be reinstated into their positions with immediate effect and ordered that N5million should be paid to each of the lawmakers as damages.
Reacting to the judgment, state Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Mr Kola Olawoye, described the judgment as no victor no vanquished.
Olawoye urged all members of the House to unite and work for the progress of the state.
Deputy Speaker, Iroju said ”Now is the time for all members of the House to work together and ensure the House operates independently according to the provision of the constitution.
Vanguard