Ondo State House of Assembly has impeached the Speaker, Honorable Olakunle Oluomo at plenary session on Tuesday.
Oluomo was impeached over alleged embezzlement of funds, highhandedness and related offences.
It will be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on September 6, 2022, arraigned Oluomo before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos over an alleged N2.475bn money laundering.
Oluomo was arraigned alongside three others: Oladapo Samuel, Adeyemo Taiwo, and Adeyanju Nimota Amoke (now at large) on 11 counts of conspiracy, forgery, stealing, and money laundering preferred against them by the EFCC.
The EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) had told the court that the defendants committed the alleged offences between 2019 and 2022.
He said that the incident took place in Ogun State.
Oyedepo told the court that they stole the sum of N2.475bn from the treasury of the Ogun State House of Assembly.
Oluomo was, however, granted bail while the trial continued
According to an impeachment letter signed by 18 members of the house the lawmakers explained that the Speaker was removed because of gross misconduct, financial misappropriation among others.
“Dear Clerk/HLS; NOTICE OF IMPEACHMENT.
“1. Whereas the office of the Speaker is to be first among equals.
2. Whereas it is supposed to be dignified.
3. Whereas office of the Speaker supposed to be responsible to the Honorable members and the people of Ogun State.
4. Consequent upon the gross misconduct of MR SPEAKER which bothers on highhandedness, lack of focus and transparency, arrogance and poor leadership style, financial misappropriation and inciting members against themselves.
“5. Sequel to the gross misconduct above mentioned and in consonance with section 92 (2)(C) of the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria and Order 11 of the Standing rule of the House of Assembly, We the undersigned duly elected members of the 10″ Assembly of Ogun State House of Assembly move for the impeachment of MR SPEAKER, RT HON. OLAKUNLE TAIWO OLUOMO with immediate effect.”
The Assembly immediately elected a member, Oludaisi Elemide, as the new Speaker.