Ondo lawmakers have given Speaker Olamide Oladiji until Sunday to resign or face impeachment, deepening the crisis in the state House of Assembly.
Twenty-one of the 26 members signed an impeachment notice against Oladiji over alleged financial misconduct, according to the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Fabiyi.
Alleged Diversion of Funds
The Speaker is accused of diverting N44 million from funds allocated for reordering the budget of the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission, known as OSOPADEC.
Fabiyi told The PUNCH by telephone on Wednesday that lawmakers gave the Speaker a few more days to resign, failing which he would be removed at the next plenary sitting.
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He said the governor intervened in the matter but allowed lawmakers to carry out their legislative duties.
“We have resolved that Mr Speaker should go. But in the wisdom of the leadership of the House, we felt we should meet with Mr Governor,” Fabiyi said.
“We have taken the resolution of the members to Mr Governor. The one we did before, they were castigating us, saying somebody was sponsoring us.”
Lawmakers Accuse Speaker of Acting Alone
Fabiyi said 21 members signed for Oladiji’s removal. He stressed that the leadership wanted to avoid appearing to act too quickly.
“Mr Governor requested some time. On this issue, we don’t have any problem with Mr Governor. It is about the OSOPADEC budget. A resolution was written in the name of members without our knowledge. It was stated that members had sat down and agreed to it, and that it was our resolution, which it was not,” Fabiyi said.
“It is a criminal offence. You cannot shave our heads behind our backs. That is what we are fighting for.”
Fabiyi added: “So, if somebody is protecting him, it means that person is aiding and abetting him. We are giving him till Sunday. If he fails to resign, we will remove him.”
The House spokesman said lawmakers would reconvene at the next plenary sitting to decide the Speaker’s fate.
On Monday, a lawmaker who spoke on condition of anonymity alleged that Oladiji and his deputy diverted N44 million meant for reordering the OSOPADEC budget without carrying other members along.
The lawmaker confirmed: “Yes, we are removing him. We just want him to resign honourably and, if he fails to do so, we will impeach him on the floor of the House. We have initiated an impeachment notice, and 21 members have already signed.
“We started the process about three weeks ago, but the governor has been talking to us, which is why we delayed it. But now, the governor has advised him to resign when we met with him. So, we are removing him.”
When contacted by telephone, Oladiji denied the allegations, saying he was not aware of any impeachment notice.
