Ondo deputy gov’s application withdrawing suit for ruling October 16

…As Ondo assembly withdraws petition against judge

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday fixed October 16 to rule on the application filed by the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to withdraw the case instituted against the state House of Assembly, and others.

Aiyedatiwa had in a motion on notice marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023, sued the Inspector-General of Police; the Department of State Services; the governor of Ondo State; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Ondo State, and the House of Assembly.

He had sought an order of interim injunction restraining Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, his servants, or privies from harassing, intimidating, embarrassing, and preventing him from carrying out the functions of his office as deputy governor of the state.

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The court, however, granted his prayers and adjourned the matter till October 9.

At the proceedings on Monday, the counsel for the deputy governor, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, told the court that the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, set up a Reconciliation Committee on October 6, 2023, to mediate the dispute between some of the parties to the suit.

He added that going ahead with the court proceedings could affect the party’s efforts.

Adegboruwa also told the court that the Ondo Assembly wrote a petition to the National Judicial Council on October 3, 2023, against the presiding judge.

He urged the court to wait for the action of the NJC on the petition before going ahead with the matter.

Responding, counsel for the Ondo State governor, Kazeem Gbadamosi, and the Chief Judge, Mutalib Ojo, respectively, urged the court to go ahead with the case, adding that the issue of jurisdiction must first be determined by the court.

In his submission, the counsel for the assembly, Femi Emodamori, said the Ondo assembly had on October 6 written a letter and affidavit to the NJC,  withdrawing the petition.

The Presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, adjourned the case to October 16 for ruling on the submissions.