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Tag: Lucky Aiyedatiwa

  • Impeachment: Ondo deputy governor, Aiyedatiwa withdraws lawsuit against Akeredolu, Ondo Assembly

    Impeachment: Ondo deputy governor, Aiyedatiwa withdraws lawsuit against Akeredolu, Ondo Assembly

    Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Ondo State deputy govenor, on Monday, told the Federal High Court in Abuja he was withdrawing the lawsuit he filed to stop his impeachment proceedings by the Ondo State House of Assembly.

    Other defendants in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023 were the Governor of Ondo State;  the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Chief Judge of Ondo State; the House of Assembly; the Inspector-General of Police; the Department of State Services.

    Mr Ebun-olu Adegboruwa (SAN), the deputy governor’s lawyer explained to the court that the deputy governor wished to withdraw the suit following the intervention of the leadership of the All Progressives Congress in the matter.

    According to him, there was no fuether need to address the matter in court, saying that the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Abdullahi Ganduje, had set up a reconciliation committee on October 6, to mediate the dispute between some of the parties to the suit.

    He added that going ahead with court proceedings could frustrate the reconciliation efforts by the APC leadership.

    He also pointed out that the Ondo State House of Assembly wrote a petition to the National Judicial Council on October 3, 2023, against the presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite.

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

    However, the representing the Ondo State Governor, Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN), and that of the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Mutalib Ojo (SAN), have vehemently opposed Adegboruwa’s withdrawal, asking the court to go ahead with the case.

    In his submission, counsel for the Assembly, Femi Emodamori, said the Ondo Assembly had already withdrawn the petition against the judge.

    Justice Nwite adjourned till October 6 for ruling.

    Recall that the deputy governor of Ondo state Aiyedatiwa had approach the court to stop impeachment proceedings against him.

     

  • Impeachment: Ondo deputy governor, Aiyedatiwa’s lawyer writes Chief Judge to halt proceedings

    Impeachment: Ondo deputy governor, Aiyedatiwa’s lawyer writes Chief Judge to halt proceedings

    Embattled Ondo Deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has told the Judge of the state to disregard the directive issued by the State House of Assembly to establish a probe panel in relation to the ongoing impeachment proceedings against his client.

    The letter, addressed to the Chief Judge, highlighted the potential contempt of court that would arise should the impeachment process proceed while two separate cases concerning the matter are pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja and the State High Court in Akure.

    Adegoruwa also noted in the letter that Aiyedatiwa has refrained from responding to the notice sent by the House of Assembly due to a restraining order already issued by the Federal High Court.

    The ongoing legal actions, he argued, had created a legal obligation to suspend any further impeachment proceedings until the court cases are resolved.

    A Federal High Court in Abuja had earlier issued a restraining order preventing the Assembly from taking any actions regarding the impeachment process.

    With the development, Adegboruwa emphasised that proceeding with the probe panel would not only undermine the ongoing judicial processes but also potentially amount to contempt of court.

    “Our client has not been personally served with any valid Notice of acts of gross misconduct as required by law.

    “Our client is not in receipt of any valid Notice of acts of gross misconduct properly so issued and bearing the authority of the House of Assembly of Ondo State to which he can respond.

    “Our client has filed and served two separate applications upon the Ondo State House of Assembly, seeking orders of interlocutory injunction against the removal proceedings and also to stay further proceedings in respect of the invalid notice, which was illegally issued and improperly served,” he wrote.

    The impeachment proceedings against Aiyedatiwa had been a subject of intense controversy and legal battles since it began a few weeks ago.

  • Ondo Assembly makes move to impeach deputy governor

    Ondo Assembly makes move to impeach deputy governor

    The Ondo State House of Assembly has explained that the deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has disregarded the impeachment notice he was served in response to allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him.

    Olamide Oladiji, the Speaker of the Assembly, emphasized that the notice served on Aiyedatiwa was received by his Chief Protocol Officer.

    Oladiji noted that the action was undertaken in accordance with Section 188 of the Nigerian Constitution, which stipulates the necessary procedures for such matters.

    He further explained that despite making concerted efforts to deliver the notice to the deputy governor, he was unavailable for service.

    He further added that the Assembly had to resort to legal measures, seeking a court order for substituted service on the deputy governor.

    “On the 25th of September, a substituted service of the notice of allegations was made to the deputy governor, duly signed by more than one-third of the Honourable Members of the House as required by the Constitution in Section 188 Sub-section 2,” he said.

    According to him, the Constitution stipulates that the Assembly should wait for seven days for the embattled deputy governor to respond, which has lapsed.

    Meanwhile, the state Assembly has told the Chief Judge of the State to constitute a panel to investigate the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against Aiyedatiwa.

     

  • Ondo deputy governor, Aiyedatiwa takes legal action to stop impeachment process against him

    Ondo deputy governor, Aiyedatiwa takes legal action to stop impeachment process against him

    Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Ondo state deputy governor has approached the court to seek an injunction to prevent the State House of Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment process against him.

    A motion of notice was filed at the Ondo State High Court in Akure on Monday by the deputy governor’s lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN.

    The motion urged the court to intervene and halt the impeachment proceedings until the lawsuit filed by Aiyedatiwa is heard and resolved.

    Aiyedatiwa’s primary argument is centered around a violation of Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He is seeking an order from the court to set aside any alleged process or notice of gross misconduct levelled against him.

    Recall that the Ondo State House of Assembly last week Wednesday cited gross conduct against the deputy govenor and subsequently initiated an impeachment process against him.

    In suit No. AK/348/2023, Aiyedatiwa stated that the House of Assembly lacks the competence to proceed with his impeachment, as it violates his constitutional and fundamental rights to a fair hearing.

    He also claimed that the termination of the appointment of his media aides and his placement under the Ministry of Information, headed by a commissioner, constitutes a violation of his rights and privileges as deputy governor.

    He argued that  the House of Assembly has been engaging in media trials against him without providing any prior notice of alleged gross misconduct, adding that the Assembly has taken on the roles of accuser, investigator, prosecutor, and judge.

    He also requested an order to prohibit the Chief Judge of Ondo State from accepting or acting upon any request from the House of Assembly to establish a panel for investigating any alleged acts of gross misconduct attributed to him.

    The respondents in the suit are the Ondo State Government, the Governor of Ondo State, Ondo State House of Assembly, Speaker of Ondo State House of Assembly, Clerk of Ondo State House of Assembly and Chief Judge of Ondo State.

  • Ondo deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa speaks on resigning

    Ondo deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa speaks on resigning

    Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the Ondo State deputy governor,  has asured the people of the state that he would not be resigning his position as the deputy governor of the state.

    Ayedatiwa urged his supporters to disregard a purported resignation letter of his currently circulating in the state.

    Aiyedatiwa’s statement followed speculations of a discreet plot to remove him from office if he failed to resign voluntarily.

    There are spuculations that the deputy governor is  facing threats from influential politicians loyal to the governor, pressuring him to step down or face impeachment.

    This comes after he served as acting governor for about four months while Akeredolu was in an undisclosed German hospital.

    The deputy governor, in a statement he signed on Thursday, urged the Ondo State House of Assembly and the general public to disregard his purported resignation.

    His statement reads partly: “My attention has been drawn to a rumour of a purported pre-signed resignation letter, signed by me, being circulated in the public domain.

    “I wish to state that I, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, have not, do not intend, and will not sign or author any letter resigning my position as the duly elected Deputy Governor in a joint ticket with my principal, the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu SAN, CON.

    “To this end, I urge the people of Ondo State, the State Assembly, and the general public to disregard such letter now and in the future.”

  • Ondo Acting Gov opens up on Akeredolu’s state of health

    Ondo Acting Gov opens up on Akeredolu’s state of health

    Ondo State Acting Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa has opened up on the state of health of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who is said to be recuperating in a hospital abroad.

    Aiyedatiwa, speaking on Tuesday in Akure while reacting to some media reports he tagged as “faceless writers to fan ember of unity in the state”, disclosed he is in constant touch with Governor Akeredolu.

    The Acting Governor urged the general public, to as usual, ignore the unfortunate lies and subterfuge as the antics of desperate political gladiators across political divides.

    “You are aware of the message of the Governor to the people of Ondo State in which he thanked the people and other critical stakeholders for their support and loyalty.

    ”The Governor appreciates your prayers and good wishes for himself and the State, across board. He is in high spirit, recuperating and being expected back in office to continue with his laudable service to the State, as soon as he is certified medically fit by his Doctors.

    “I am in touch with him, the latest being on Sunday when he expressed appreciation to me and other State Executive Council Members for holding the fort while he is away.

    “I like to also join the governor to express our profound appreciation to you all for your unending show of love, solidarity.

    ”We should remain in this attitude of prayer and solidarity for the good of ourselves, the governor and the State at large” the statement read in parts.

    Aiyedatiwa urged the general public to ignore the unfortunate lies and antics of desperate political gladiators across political divides, assuring that it would not allow it to derail the focus and developmental policies of the current administration of Akeredolu.

    The acting governor said the tactics of the faceless writers and agents of provocateurs were intended to fan embers of discord, tarnish the hard-earned reputations of individuals in government circles and distract Government attention foe selfish politic gains.

    ”We crave for more cooperation and support from the good people of the State as well as ask for more restraints and circumspection on the part of groups and individuals whose actions and unwarranted vituperations in social circles and the media are capable of robbing off negatively on the image of the State.

    “We, therefore, assure the people of Ondo state that there is no gap in governance. The government of Ondo State is on course, construction works are going on across the state and other official activities are also running well in line with standard practices.

    “The security and welfare of the people being the primary constitutional mandate of government is enjoying top priority.

    ”The state government will not at any time renege on this important obligation to the people. We urge you all to continue to be law-abiding, peaceful and endeavour to pursue your legitimate businesses and activities unhindered,” the deputy governor said.

    The Ondo State House of Assembly on Monday confirmed the letter written to it by Gov. Akeredolu informing it of the extension of his medical vacation.

    The Governor who is ill and has been receiving treatment in the hospital had earlier informed the Assembly of his medical leave on June 5.

  • Ondo deputy governor, Aiyedatiwa accused of eyeing Akeredolu’s seat

    Ondo deputy governor, Aiyedatiwa accused of eyeing Akeredolu’s seat

    Ondo State deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has been accused by some members of the Ondo State Executive Council for promoting illness and death rumours against the executive governor of Ondo state, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    Speculations are flying around that the deputy governor is eyeing the governor’s seat following Akeredolu’s illness.

    According to sources within the cabinet, the governor has become aware of the deputy governor’s alleged lack of loyalty and has grown increasingly uncomfortable with his purported ambition.

    Although the deputy governor hasn’t made any visible move to show intention to run in the 2024 gubernatorial elections, however, campaigns have started n earnest.

    Trouble started when Akeredolu went on vacation and left the deputy governor in charge of the governor’s office.

    During his brief stint as acting governor, the deputy governor was alleged to have prioritized his personal interests over that of the state and the governor.

    Furthermore, certain members of the exco have accused the deputy governor of being responsible for spreading stories about the governor’s health and subsequent rumours of his death.

    Sources within the exco, who preferred to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the issue, disclosed that the deputy governor had initiated the rumours about the governor’s health.

    One of the exco members confirmed that Akeredolu’s health was not deteriorating while also expressing concern with the governor’s choice of deputy governors.

    “The deputy governor is behind all these circulating stories. What actually happened was that after the Cabinet meeting three weeks ago and the subsequent courtesy visits, the governor decided to take some time to rest.

    “The governor has been advised to deliberately spend quality time resting. So, the deputy governor went to Ibadan to visit him and brought along some files. However, he didn’t inform the governor or his close aides about his visit. Upon reaching Ibadan, the governor signed the files, which were then returned to him. But the governor didn’t wait to talk to the deputy governor.

    “When he returned to Akure, he started telling some of our associates that the governor should transfer power to him. He even attempted to persuade Exco members to support his position.

    “He deliberately initiated these rumours about the governor’s health to gain public sympathy and support. The deputy governor lied to us. It was only when we started contacting the governor ourselves that we learned the truth.

    “Just last Monday, the governor signed the May 2023 salary. The fact that the ministries are functioning should assure you that the governor is in charge and actively involved. At present, he is upset and pissed with these false stories.”

    But according to a government insider, the deputy governor already has his loyalists within the cabinet.

    “If their attempt to remove the governor from office is successful, the deputy governor has promised a Commissioner that he will be his deputy. In addition, he promised to name another cabinet member as Secretary to the State Government.

    “Unfortunately, two Commissioners are competing for the position of deputy governor in Aiyedatiwa. In addition, a Special Adviser has sworn allegiance to the deputy governor as part of her plot to be nominated for the position of NDDC State Representative.

    “All of these people are currently allied with one another and pushing for the governor to delegate authority to the deputy.”

    “The governor and the deputy governor met last week, and the governor signed several documents, including the salary for the Local Government. Why would the deputy governor keep quiet while the media was reporting unfavourable things about his boss? We know he is responsible for them.

    “In truth, he was persuaded to make a statement disputing these false reports, but he chose not to. It is quite distressing to see such behaviour from a deputy governor who the governor personally hand pick.

    “In fact, he was urged to issue a statement refuting these fabricated stories, but he declined. It is truly disappointing to witness such behavior from someone who was handpicked by the governor and made deputy governor,” he said.

    Reacting to the development, Aiyedatiwa’s Press Secretary, Kenneth Odusola, maintained that “this falsehood and its peddlers would have ordinarily been ignored at this time, but the need to halt further negative reports and rumours capable of creating needless tension in our state has necessitated this response.

    “The said allegation against the person of the deputy governor is a figment of the imagination of those behind it and their ungodly intentions to cause crisis in the State had been known for weeks and therefore such falsehood did not come as a surprise.”

  • Ondo 2020: Ilaje Group commends Akeredolu for picking Lucky Aiyedatiwa as running mate

    Ondo 2020: Ilaje Group commends Akeredolu for picking Lucky Aiyedatiwa as running mate

    The Ilaje Development Summit Group has expressed gratitude to Governor Rotimi Akeredolu for picking one of their own, Lucky Aiyedatiwa as his running mate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Ondo State.

    TheNewsGuru.com TNG, reports that Akeredolu who ran a joint ticket with his incumbent deputy, Agboola Ajayi in 2016 announced Aiyedatiwa as his running mate last week after a fallout with Agboola who has since decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his rumoured to be defecting to another party.

    The group in a statement by its Executive Administrator, Rev. Sola Adebawo said Akeredolu’s choice of Aiyedatiwa will help shift developmental attention to the area.

    Read full statement below:

    ILAJE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT GROUP CONGRATULATES GOVERNOR AKEREDOLU ON THE CHOICE OF ILAJE SON (HON. LUCKY AIYEDATIWA) AS RUnNING MATE IN THE UP-COMING GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION IN ONDO STATE
    · Commends Akeredolu for choosing an Ilaje man as running mate in October election
    · Demands focus on development of Ilaje land by government

    The Ilaje Development Summit Group (IDSG) wishes to congratulate the Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu (Aketi) on his choice of a distinguished Ilaje son, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as his running mate in the coming governorship election in Ondo State.

    This represents a clear recognition of both the obvious capacity of our brother and son to perform in this huge role, and a strong indication of an acknowledgment of the critical place of Ilaje in the sustainable success of our dear Ondo State. It also represents the beginning of a new era of Ilaje playing in the mainstream of governance in Ondo State, which our fathers fought relentlessly to help create, and which our resources have helped to sustain over the years.

    As we approach the elections, we demand for a genuine focus on Ilaje for sustainable development of neglected infrastructures and other key areas such as health, education, economy, electricity etc. as a matter of commitment and not mere campaign rhetoric.

    IDSG is a citizen-led initiative to engineer coordinated sustainable development of Ilaje land through participatory partnership of all groups, associations and individuals working for the development of Ilaje land. Though neither apolitical nor irreligious, IDSG is an inclusive organization with no exclusive political or religious affiliation. The organization is made up of the most accomplished Ilaje sons and daughters in Nigerian and in different countries around the world; and we therefore parade some of the finest minds in Ilaje land.

    IDSG convened the much-talked about first-of-its-kind Ilaje Development Summit on november 23, 2019, at the Dome Akure, with participation by the Ondo State Government and Ilaje sons and daughters from different countries around the world, where the first Ilaje Regional Development Plan (a 50-year strategic plan for development of Ilaje land) was launched.

    As a global organization of most outstanding Ilaje sons and daughters across all walks of life, IDSG seeks to partner with government at all levels and other critical stakeholders to engender sustainable development of Ilaje land, which has been obviously neglected by successive administration in the State.

  • Ondo 2020: Akeredolu announces running mate after Deputy’s detour

    Ondo 2020: Akeredolu announces running mate after Deputy’s detour

    Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu has picked and official announced his running mate for the October 10 election to hold in the State.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Akeredolu picked Lucky Aiyedatiwa as his running mate for the election and announced him via his official Twitter page on Wednesday.

    The choice of Akeredolu was communicated to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, TNG learnt.

    Ayedatiwa is a former representative of the State on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    He is a native of Obe-Nla, an oil-bearing community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    Recall that Akeredolu’s deputy, Agboola Ajayi recently decamped from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Efforts to impeach Ajayi as Deputy Governor had failed.

    However, his bid to contest the governorship election hit the walls when he failed in the PDP’s primary that produced Eyitayo Jegede as governorship candidate.

    Meanwhile, Akeredolu has expressed optimism that he would win the October 10 Ondo state governorship poll.

    Akeredolu said this shortly after meeting with the APC Election Appeal Committee at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja on Monday.

    He advised the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Eyitayo Jegede, to focus on issue based campaign without resorting to violence.

    “Jegede is my friend. We are colleagues and both members of inner bar, I don’t have anything against him and I just pray that our campaign should be issue based without violence.

    “I know that he (Jegede) knows that it will not be easy for him. Yes, it may not be easy for me to win, but by God’s grace, I am going to win.

    “I can assure you that as it was in the beginning, so it shall be now and forever more. We will win this election by the grace of God,”Akeredolu said.

    The governor said the defection of his deputy, Mr Agboola Ajayi, to the opposition PDP would not affect his chances at the poll.

    “For me, the deputy leaving the APC to return to the PDP is good radiance to bad rubbish.

    “We thought we could accommodate him in the APC, but since he returned to where he truly belonged, it is all well and good. I always wish people the best I can.

    “From what I have been told, he has lost the ticket and I pray he won’t jump to another party, but if he does, all well and good.

    “However, for his own sake and as a big brother, I will advise him to stay with Jegede and support him very well,” Akeredolu said.

    According to him, Ajayi has made a case that he helped me to win, let him help Jegede to win this time around and that will confirm that he is popular.

    “What I know is that he is of no importance, he has no hold on any local government, I can assure you that when the election comes, I will defeat him in his local government and he will never recover from it.

    “Let me advise him again to stay with Jegede and let us see what happens,”the governor said.

    He said he was at the National Secretariat to respond to some issues at the Election Appeal Committee.

    “I am here at the secretariat because people lodged appeal against my election and emergence from the party primaries and that is why I came around to answer the committee.

    “I was told that two aspirants approached the committee to file appeal against me and my mission here is to reply to those appeal,” he said.