An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has restrained the state House of Assembly from further impeachment process against the Deputy Governor of the state, Engineer Rauf Aderemi Olaniyan.
The court presided over by Justice Ladiran Akintola gave this order on Wednesday.
Justice Akintola ruled that the lawmakers should maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the application for interlocutory injunction filed by Olaniyan’s counsel, Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN).
Akintola, thereafter, adjourned the case until Tuesday, July 5, 2022 for the hearing of the respondent’s reply.
He said that the date has been picked for continuation of hearing.
He said that the adjournment was to allow the Assembly to file its reply to that of Olaniyan at the Court.
Recalls that following the defection of the deputy governor from the Peoples Democratic Party to All Progressives Congress, subsequently the legislative initiated impeachment moves against him two weeks ago.
Olaniyan decided to fight back by instituting the suit against the House of Assembly, the Clerk and the Speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin.
Fashanu had earlier filed an application for an interim injunction restraining the Assembly from taking any step pursuant to the impeachment of the applicant.
He prayed the court to rule that status quo should be maintained, pending the hearing, so that the application would not be defeated.
Counsel to the respondents, Mr A. A. Olabiyi, orally applied to the court for extension of time to respond to the motion.
Olabiyi said that he was served the motion on notice at the close of work on Tuesday.
https://tribuneonlineng.com/court-restrains-oyo-assembly-from-impeaching-deputy-governor/