IMPEACHMENT: Court fixes March 10 for hearing on Ekiti Speaker’s suit against Fayose

  

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday fixed March 10 to hear a suit instituted by Mr Adewale Omirin seeking to challenge his impeachment as Speaker of the Ekiti House of Assembly by the Dele Olugbemi-led Ekiti House of Assembly faction, Governor Ayodele Fayose and 12 others. Justice Saliu Saidu had adjourned the suit after counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Norrison Quakers (SAN), informed the court of the challenges of effecting service of court processes on the defendants. The judge had adjourned the suit to March 10 to enable parties regularise their processes. 

NAN reports that other plaintiffs are the Deputy Speaker, Adetunji Orisalade, and 17 other members of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in the House. The plaintiffs are seeking enforcement of their fundamental rights. Joined as defendants along with Olugbemi and Fayose are Mr Samuel Ajibola, Mr Adeojo Alexander, Mr Adeloye Adeyinka, Mr Israel Ajiboye, Mr Fatunbi Olajide and Mr Olayinka Abeni. 

Others are the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Mr Owoseni Ajayi, Mr Kayode Oso and Chief Toyin Ojo. At the last adjourned date, the court had granted the plaintiffs leave to serve copies of the originating processes on the defendants. NAN recalls that the plaintiffs had filed the suit seeking to stop legislative functions in the Assembly, pending the determination of the suit. The application was brought pursuant to the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009, the Criminal Code and the 1999 Constitution (as amended). 

It would be recalled that Omirin and his deputy were impeached on Nov. 20, 2014, on the floor of the Assembly.