On Tuesday, the Ogun House of Assembly ratified the impeachment of Olakunle Oluomo (APC-Ifo I) as the speaker.
The 22 lawmakers present at the plenary presided over by deputy speaker Bolanle Ajayi (APC-Yewa South) voted in support of the impeachment.
Musefiu Lamidi (APC-Ado Odo Ota II) read the committee report set up by the assembly on Monday to investigate the allegations against the former speaker.
Mr Lamidi said the committee had assured Mr Oluomo that it was not on a witch-hunting mission and would be fair in handling its assignment.
“The speaker said some of the committee members did not have the right to be in the committee to investigate him since they were among the 18 members who originally signed the impeachment notice.
“Having observed that the committee turned down his request, he walked out on us to avoid responding to further questions from the committee. The committee observed that the attitude of the speaker showed that he had no regard for the committee and, by extension, the house of assembly.
“His attitude is a clear admittance of the allegations contained in the impeachment notice served on him, which includes financial impropriety, high handedness and lack of focus, among others,” he said.
Mr Lamidi said that the committee found Oluomo guilty of all the allegations against him and consequently recommended that he be impeached.
The lawmaker, thereafter, moved the motion to adopt the report, which was seconded by Oluseun Adesanya (PDP-Ijebu North-East).
The deputy speaker threw the resolution back to the house, which was eventually affirmed by the 22 members in attendance, leading to Mr Oluomo’s removal as speaker through a majority vote.
“With the majority vote of 22 members, I hereby confirm that Oluomo stands impeached and removed as the speaker of Ogun house of assembly,” she said.
Another lawmaker, Adegoke Adeyanju (APC-Yewa North I), thereafter nominated Oludaisi Elemide (APC-Odeda) as the new speaker, which was seconded by Adeniran Ademola (APC-Sagamu II).
Mr Elemide then took the oath of office and was officially sworn in to replace the impeached speaker.
The new speaker promised an all-inclusive leadership, urging members to see themselves as one and work in unity for the state’s progress.
The deputy speaker read a letter of impeachment notice served on Mr Oluomo, signed by 25 of the 26 assembly members.
Mr Oluomo was impeached on January 23 by 18 of the 26 lawmakers during the plenary presided over by the deputy speaker.
(NAN)
