Ondo lawmakers move to impeach Speaker over alleged misconduct

Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have begun impeachment moves against the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji, following allegations of gross misconduct.

Twelve out of the 26 lawmakers signed the impeachment notice and passed a vote of no confidence on him.

The lawmakers also asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to immediately investigate, prosecute and recover all public funds allegedly mismanaged under Oladiji’s leadership.

The tension in the Assembly started a few days ago when some lawmakers staged a walkout during discussions on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s N531 billion supplementary budget. They accused the Speaker of trying to rush the bill through despite what they described as the poor performance of the 2025 budget.

The lawmakers, who signed the impeachment notice include Jide Oguntodu (Akure South 1), Temitope Akomolafe (Ifedore), Fatai Atere (Akoko North/West 1), Toyin Japhet (Akoko North East), Raymond Daodu (Akoko South West 1) and Samuel Ifabiyi (Odigbo 1).

Others include Babatunde Fasonu (Odigbo 2), Oluwatosin Ogunlowo (Idanre), Afe Felix (Akoko North/West 2), Nelson Akinsuroju (Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo), Akinruntan Abayomi (Ilaje 1) and Stephen Abitogun (Akure South 2).

The lawmakers accused the Speaker of allegedly diverting the sum of N50 million appropriated for the conduct of a public hearing as well as misappropriatingmonthly operational grants of the House.

According to the lawmakers, the acts by the Speaker contravened paragraph 9, Part I, Fifth Schedule, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) – prohibition of abuse of office by a public officer – as well as the Seventh Schedule, Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) – violation of the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance.

“Section 19, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 – abuse of office to confer corrupt or unfair advantage; Section 390, Criminal Code Act (Cap. C38, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004) – stealing by a person in the public service;

“The said infractions amount to gross misconduct within the meaning ascribed by Section 188(11) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) (applied by necessary implication), and have gravely impaired the institutional integrity and lawful operations of the House,” they claimed.

Reacting to the development, an aide to the Speaker, who craved anonymity, described the impeachment threat as “a political storm in a teacup”, stressing that it is dead on arrival.

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