Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, the incumbent deputy governor of Oyo State, has approached the State High Court to stall the impeachment process instituted by the State House of Assembly.
It will be recalled that 24 out of the 32 members of the State House of Assembly had in a petition accused the deputy governor of five offences which include — gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial recklessness, abandonment of official duty, insubordination and other offences.
The petition read: “This process, according to petitioners, is in accordance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended in 2011 Section 188”.
The deputy governor, as reliably informed, has responded to all the allegations raised in the petition through his legal counsel.
This development has been confirmed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Kazeem Olayanju.
Olayanju disclosed this in an interview session on an Ibadan-based popular radio station. He said the House has received the response of the deputy governor on the allegations levelled against him and it will be discussed when the House reconvenes on Wednesday.
Olaniyan on Tuesday reportedly approached the court with prayers, seeking the order of the court to stop the House of Assembly from carrying on with the impeachment process.
The case came up before Justice Ladiran Akintola at High Court 7, Ring Road, Ibadan on Tuesday, and has been adjourned till Wednesday.
The deputy governor was represented in court by his legal counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, SAN.
Adjourning the case, the court ordered that the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, and the clerk be put on notice about the litigation. As gathered, the duo have been served the court processes on Tuesday afternoon.