Appeal Court Reinstates Sacked Ondo Dep Speaker

The Court of Appeal Akure yesterday nullified the expulsion of former Ondo State Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, four years after he completed his tenure.

In a unanimous decision, Justices Oyebisi Omoleye, Frederick Oziakpono-Oho and Yusuf Bashir upheld the judgment of Justice Akintan Osadebey of an Ondo State High Court reinstating the Ogundeji, who represented Odigbo State Constituency in the Assembly.

The Assembly under the leadership of David Oleyeloogun suspended Ogundeji and removed him as Deputy Speaker. He served the rest of his tenure as a lawmaker in suspension.

However, Ogundeji approached the court for the nullification of the suspension and removal as Deputy Speaker on the ground that his removal did not follow the constitutional requirements. Justice Osadebey, in her judgment, ordered the reinstatement of Ogundeji as the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.

The court described as illegal, null and void the purported removal of Ogundeji as the Deputy Speaker on November 24, 2020, by some members of the Assembly. Justice Osadebey held that the plaintiff was not given a fair hearing as his purported removal was carried out before a panel to investigate him was set up by the Assembly.