Oyo State Chief Judge, Munta Abimbola, has constituted a 7man panel to investigate Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan. The panel is to be chaired by Chief Kayode Christopher. Abimbola said the delay in obeying the directive of the House of Assembly in setting up the panel was due to the suit filed on the matter by the latter. He made the clarification on while constituting the panel on Thursday. The Nation reports that the move followed a directed issued to the CJ by the state lawmakers in a bid to remove the deputy governor from office.
Recall that an Oyo State High Court presided over by Justice Ladiran Akintola on Thursday dismissed a suit filed by Olaniyan challenging the propriety of the procedures by the lawmakers. But, Olaniyan had through his lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu, immediately filed a notice of appeal and an application for stay of execution of the judgement at the Appeal court barely an hour after the judgement was delivered.
Other members of the panel include: Arc. Adebisi Soyombo, Chief Lawal Adekunle Dauda, Princess Olanike Olusegun, Rev Fr. Patrick Ademola, Chief Mrs Wuraola Adepoju (JP) and Alh. Tirimisiyu Akewusola Badmus.
A statement by the Court’s Information Officer, Mrs Comfort Udoh said the members of the panel were “found worthy to be men of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political parties have been constituted to investigate the allegations against the deputy governor as provided under section 188(5) of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
It added that the CJ reached the resolve on the members after due consultation with relevant stakeholders including, Muslim community, Christian community, Justice of peace (JP) and legal profession among others.
“The Honourable Chief Judge of Oyo state, Hon. Justice Munta Ladipo Abimbola on Thursday, 14th July, 2022 constituted a 7-man Investigating panel in pursuant to the resolution of the House of Assembly of Oyo State, and as requested by the Honourable Speaker of the House Debo Ogundoyin by a letter dated 6th July, 2022, and by the virtue of power conferred on his lordship by section 188 (5) of the 1999 constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The delay in the inauguration of the members of the panel of investigation was due to the pending suit against the impeachment of the Deputy Governor of Oyo State which Judgement was delivered yesterday, 14th July, 2022 by Hon. Justice A.L. Akintola who dismissed the claim of the deputy governor,” the statement read in part.