Ex-Ogun speaker, Oluomo goes to court, dismisses impeachment as illegal

The former speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, has dismissed his impeachment by colleagues as illegal.

He was impeached by 18 out of the 26 members of the Assembly for alleged misappropriation of funds on Tuesday.

The lawmakers had since elected the lawmaker representing Odeda constituency, Oludaisi Elemide, as the new speaker of the House.

The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, had earlier on Friday blamed the speaker’s impeachment on a long-standing dispute among the lawmakers.

Oluomo, who addressed the journalists at his residence inside the legislative quarters in Abeokuta on Friday, insisted that he remains the speaker of the Assembly.

The ex-speaker said he had approached the court for redress.

READ ALSO: Ogun State Assembly Speaker, Oluomo, impeached

He said: “I remain Ogun State House of Assembly’s Speaker. Some members have continued to terrorise me after my emergence for the second term as speaker. I believe that members have the right to elect speaker, but the due process must be followed.

“Two of the lawmakers wrestled the mace from the sergeant-at-arm, before forcing their way into the chambers to carry out the illegal impeachment.

“Even if they want to impeach me, they ought to have served me notice. They later served me the impeachment notice after the purported impeachment

“I’m ready to face the panel to defend myself, but until that is done, I remain the speaker.

“I have filed a suit asking the court to determine whether the Speaker of the Assembly could be impeached through a Gestapo style.”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now