A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday barred the Ondo State House of Assembly from impeaching the Deputy Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for alleged gross misconduct.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the decision shortly after Aiyedatiwa’s counsel, Kayode Adewusi, brought the ex-parte motion.
The judge also barred Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu from naming a new deputy governor and submitting it to lawmakers for approval, awaiting the outcome of the substantive dispute.
After hearing Adewusi, Justice Nwite concluded that allowing the application would serve the interests of justice.
“Therefore, the application of the applicant succeeds,” he said.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the beleaguered deputy governor sued the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) in a petition on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023.
Gov. Akeredoku, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Ondo State, and the House of Assembly are the other respondents, ranked first to sixth.
Aiyedatiwa requested four reliefs in his application, which was submitted on September 21 by Mr Adelanke Akinrata.
The judge also issued a temporary injunction prohibiting Akeredolu, his servants, or privies from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing, or impeding Aiyedatiwa from carrying out his duties as deputy governor of Ondo State.
The matter was continued until Oct. 9 for hearing by Justice Nwite, who granted all the reliefs.
Aiyedatiwa had also asked the High Court in Akure, in another suit, numbered AK/348/2023, to halt the state’s House of Assembly from advancing with impeachment procedures against him pending the hearing and determination of the petition filed in court on Monday.
