Olaniyan's Impeachment Is Constitutional - Court

The Oyo State High Court on Monday dismissed all claims of the impeached former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Rauf Olaniyan.

Olaniyan had sought to challenge his impeachment by the Oyo State House of Assembly in 2022.

The sacked Oyo State Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan had also faulted the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Munta Abimbola, over the constitution of the seven-man panel which recommended his removal from office.

Speaking through his lawyer, Afolabi Fashanu, Olaniyan alleged that the panel instituted to investigate the allegations raised against him was paid to do what they did.

He also described it as a charade.

The trial judge, Ladiran Akintola, on July 15, 2022, ruled that the originating summon filed by the claimant was purely legislative and not judicial in line with the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as altered).

He held that the lawmakers and all the defendants did not err on the impeachment process.

The court which noted that the lawmakers substantially complied with the provisions of Section 188 of the constitution on the removal process, urged the lawmakers to continue with the impeachment proceedings.

Following the recent development, the court on Monday dismissed the case instituted by the former deputy governor.

The court held that all the processes leading to the impeachment and indeed the impeachment are lawful and proper.