The Court of Federal Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State has nullified the expulsion of former Deputy Speaker Hon. Iroju Ogundeji, who had completed his tenure four years earlier.
The court’s unanimous decision reinstated Ogundeji, reversing the earlier removal ordered by the Assembly on Tuesday.
The ruling was delivered by Justices Oyebisi Folayemi Omoleye, Frederick Oziakpono-Oho, and Yusuf Alhaji Bashir, who upheld the earlier judgment by Justice Akintan Osadebey.
Recall that Justice Osadebey had previously reinstated Ogundeji, who was suspended and removed from his position by the former Speaker, Hon. David Bamidele Oleyeloogun.
Ogundeji, who represented Odigbo State Constituency, had been suspended as a member of the Assembly and removed as Deputy Speaker, serving the remainder of his term under suspension.
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The Assembly, dissatisfied with the lower court’s decision, appealed, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction due to procedural issues.
The appellate court dismissed the Assembly’s appeal, affirming that Ogundeji’s removal was unconstitutional.
Subsequently, the court ordered that Ogundeji should be reinstated and all his entitlements paid up-to-date while his paraphilia of office should be restored immediately, just as the appointment of Aderoboye was described as a nullity.
Consequently, Justice Osadebey awarded N10 million as damages for the humiliation suffered by the lawmaker during his purported impeachment and suspension from the Assembly.
The appellate court also dismissed all the brought before it by the Assembly and ordered the lawmaker to be paid all his entitlements as a lawmaker and as the Deputy Speaker of the ninth Assembly.
NIGERIAN TRIBUNE