ONDO
The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jumoke Akindele, and her deputy, Hon. Fatai Olotu, were reportedly impeached by 18 of the 26 lawmakers of the Assembly last night.
As stated by reports, the legislators elected Hon. Iroju Ogundeji from Odigbo Local Government as new Speaker, and Hon. Ayo Arowele from Owo Local Government as his deputy to replace the ousted principal officers.
The impeachment was said to have been carried out around 10.00pm in the residence of one of the aggrieved lawmakers after the usual plenary session, which was fixed for 10.00 am was put off for undisclosed reasons.
The 18 lawmakers, who impeached the Speaker and his deputy, scanned and sent a letter containing their signatures to newsmen around 10:30pm advancing no reason for their action. It was unclear if the lawmakers had the mace as at the time of filing the report.
However, sources within the Assembly disclosed that the legislators impeached the principal officers because they failed to protect their interest with the state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.
A source, who pleaded anonymity, alleged that the officers had become puppets of the governor. “The lawmakers are being owed three months salaries, even as they have no official cars and quarters of residence.
“I will talk to you later. The speaker has been impeached. But I can’t give you the whole gist. We will talk tomorrow,” he stated.
Guardian