Ogun House of Assembly, on Tuesday, ratified the impeachment of Olakunle Oluomo (APC-Ifo1) as the Speaker.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all the 22 lawmakers present at the plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Bolanle Ajayi (APC-Yewa South) voted in support of the impeachment.
Mr Musefiu Lamidi (APC-Ado Odo Ota II) read the report of the committee set up by the assembly on Monday to investigate the allegations levelled against the former speaker.
Lamidi said that the committee had assured Oluomo that it was not on a witch-hunting mission and that it would be fair in the handling of 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 regards 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.
Lamidi said that the committee found Oluomo guilty of all the allegations levelled against him and consequently recommended that he should be impeached.
The lawmaker, thereafter, moved the motion for the adoption of 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 Oluomo’s removal as speaker through 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, Mr Adegoke Adeyanju (APC-Yewa North I), thereafter, nominated Oludaisi Elemide (APC-Odeda) as the new speaker, which was seconded by Adeniran Ademola (APC-SagamuII).
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 progress of the state.
Earlier, the deputy speaker had read a letter of impeachment notice served on Oluomo, which was signed by 25 out of the 26 members of the assembly.
NAN reports that Oluomo was impeached on Jan. 23 by 18 out of the 26 lawmakers during the plenary presided over by the deputy speaker. (NAN)