The Ondo State House of Assembly faces a shake-up as the Court of Appeal in Akure orders the reinstatement of Hon. Iroju Ogundeji as Deputy Speaker.
In a unanimous decision on Tuesday, the appellate court upheld a lower court ruling that declared Ogundeji’s removal in November 2020 “illegal, null and void.”
Justices Oyebisi Omoleye, Frederick Oziakpono-Oho and Yusuf Bashir dismissed the Assembly’s appeal, affirming the earlier judgment by Justice Akintan Osadebey.
The case stems from Ogundeji’s suspension as a lawmaker and subsequent removal as Deputy Speaker in 2020. Representing Odigbo Constituency 1, Ogundeji challenged these actions through his lawyer, Oluwanike Omotayo.
Omotayo argued that the Assembly’s decision violated constitutional requirements and internal rules. He cited Order Two, Section 9 (1-10) of the Assembly’s standing orders, which mandates a two-thirds majority for impeaching principal officers.
The lower court agreed, finding that Ogundeji was not given a fair hearing. Justice Osadebey noted that the impeachment occurred before an investigative panel was formed, and lacked the required parliamentary resolution.
“Not all members were present during the impeachment as required by the rules of the Assembly and the 1999 constitution,” the judge stated.
The court ordered Ogundeji’s immediate reinstatement, payment of all entitlements, and restoration of his office paraphernalia. It also awarded him N10 million in damages for the “humiliation suffered.”
The Assembly, through then-Attorney General Titiloye Charles, appealed on grounds that the trial court lacked jurisdiction.
However, the Court of Appeal dismissed all aspects of this challenge.
