A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Kayode Ajulo has alleged that some officials in the administration of Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu have been signing documents on behalf of the ailing governor. Ajulo shared this allegation during an interview on Arise Television’s Morning Show program.
According to Ajulo, the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, cannot constitutionally take over the governor’s position since power has not been officially transferred to him. He expressed concerns about the governance of the state being controlled by a cabal due to the absence of a proper transfer of power.
The lawyer stated that he had received information as a legal practitioner about five commissioners who sent memos to the governor and received approvals in return. He compared these approvals to those given by the governor when he was in good health and highlighted noticeable disparities.
Ajulo referenced the Police and Administration of Justice Act, which allows for private investigators to look into such matters. He stated that investigators had been contacted, and their findings were reportedly damning, as the signature on the documents did not appear to belong to the governor.
The lawyer argued that the doctrine of necessity, which permits the deputy governor to assume power until the governor resumes, should be embraced in this situation. Ajulo believed that there is a presumption of the governor’s incapacitation, and the only way to counter it would be for the governor to address the public or delegate his powers to the deputy.
Ajulo raised questions about certain individuals holding provisions of the state constitution and potentially exploiting the current situation for personal gain. He also called for thorough investigations into the missing N7.5 billion in the state, including an examination of those who granted approval.
In November, The Explainer reported that the leadership crisis in the state appeared to have ended, with President Bola Tinubu intervening and urging the opposing factions to embrace peace. Aiyedatiwa pledged to include all commissioners and officials in managing the state’s affairs, and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly halted all impeachment actions against Aiyedatiwa.
