Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon. Dele Olugbemi has dismissed the purported notice of impeachment against the State Governor, Ayodele Fayose and his Deputy, Olusola Eleka by some All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers, describing it as a ploy by the APC to distract the State government.
The Speaker also petitioned the State Commissioner of Police and Director of the Department of State Service (DSS), accusing the impeached former Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr Adewale Omirin of forgery, impersonation and attempt to cause breach of public peace.
Olugbemi said; “The House never sat at any time to deliberate, and or pass any Motion for Impeachment of Mr Ayodele Fayose.”
In a letter written to the State Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, dated 4th April, Olugbemi noted that Omirin, who signed the purported Impeachment Notice as Speaker of the State House of Assembly was duly impeached at the plenary session of the House on 20th November 2014.
Jointly signed by Olugbemi and the Clerk of the House, Joseph Tola Esan the letter drew attention to the plots published in some online publications and dismissed it as rumours.
The letter read: “Our attention has been drawn to publications in some ONLINE newspapers of a purported notice to impeach the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose by the State House of Assembly.
“The purported Notice of Impeachment dated March 9, 2015 was signed by Dr Adewale Omirin, who claimed to be the Speaker of the State House of Assembly.
“We wish to dissociate the Ekiti State House of Assembly from the purported impeachment notice, as the House never sat at any time to deliberate, and or pass any Motion for Impeachment of Mr Ayodele Fayose.
“Resolutions of the House of Assembly cannot be taken outside the precinct of the House and as at today, there is nothing in the records of proceedings of the Ekiti State House of Assembly to show that matter(s) on impeachment of Governor Ayodele Fayose was discussed in the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly of Ekiti State.
“Dr Adewale Omirin, who signed the purported Impeachment Notice as Speaker of the State House of Assembly was duly impeached at the plenary session of the House on November 20, 2014.
“Votes and proceedings, Order Papers and Hansard of sittings of the House are available for clarification.
“In the face of the law, and going by records of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Dr. Adewale Omirin and Hon Adetunji Orisalade stand impeached as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House respectively.
“On November 26, 2014, Dr Adewale Omirin filed Suit No: PHC/L/CS/1823/14 at the Federal High Court Lagos, challenging his impeachment.
“The two cases mentioned above are still pending in court.
“Having approached the court to challenge his impeachment, it is trite in law that the impeachment stands until the court decides otherwise.
“In a situation whereby you have approached the court to adjudicate on a matter, it is subjudice to take any further to overreach the court.
“Your Lordship should therefore disregard any correspondence from the Ekiti State House of Assembly, bearing the name and signature of Dr Adewale Omirin as Speaker of the House, until the court determines Suit No: PHC/L/CS/1823/14 challenging the outcome of the House sitting of November 20, 2014 in which he (Omirin) was duly impeached.”
In another letter to the Commissioner of Police and Director of DSS, the Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olugbemi described the use of letterhead of the office of the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly by Omirin as forgery.
Olugbemi said: “Knowing that he seized from being the Speaker of the State House of Assembly since November 20, 2014, Dr Omirin still forged the letterhead of the Office of the Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, using same to write a letter and signing same as Speaker of the House of Assembly, an office he no longer occupy.
“This action of Dr Omirin is also geared towards causing breach of the peace of Ekiti State.
“I therefore urge you to use your good offices to investigate these criminal acts perpetrated by Dr Omirin with a view to prosecuting him for forgery and impersonation.”
