Ondo Assembly petitions NJC to investigate embattled Deputy Governor

The Ondo State House of Assembly has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the Ondo state Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

The House noted that the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, had failed to respond to the Letter of Notice served on him on Sept. 25 over allegations of gross misconduct.

The Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, said the letter of Notice was received on behalf of Mr Aiyedatiwa by his Chief Protocol Officer.

Speaking at the plenary session in Akure, Mr Oladiji said the house resolution that the deputy governor should be duly served a Notice of the allegations, was in line with Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution.

“Concerted efforts were made to serve the Notice on the deputy governor, who for some time was not available for the service, prompting the House to approach the court for a substituted service on the deputy governor.

“On 25th of September, a substituted service of the Notice of allegations was made on the deputy governor duly signed by more than one-third Honourable Members of the House as required by the Constitution in Section 188 Sub-section 2,” he stated.

“Distinguished colleagues, Section 188 of the Constitution states further that the deputy governor has 7 days within which to reply to the allegations levelled against him.

“The Constitution states further that within seven days of the passing of a motion under the foregoing provisions of this section, the Chief Judge of the state shall at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly appoint a panel of seven persons.

“Distinguished colleagues, I, therefore, wish to seek your opinion to direct the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Hon. Justice Olusegun Odusola, to in line with this section of the Constitution, set up a seven-man panel to investigate the deputy governor on the allegations levelled against him,” he said.