Oyo state House of Assembly has directed the Chief Judge of the state to set up a panel of seven-persons to investigate the allegation of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan.
This was contained in a motion jointly moved by the Majority leader, Hon Sanjo Onaolapo (Ogbomoso South) and Hon Akintunde Olajide (Lagelu), on Wednesday, during its plenary which was approved by the house.
The house directed the panel to report its findings within three months of its appointment.
The motion read in part: “Urge Mr. Speaker that on the strength of the signatures received from the aforementioned 23 Honourable Members and in accordance with the provision of section 188(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) to request the Chief Judge of Oyo State to appoint panel of seven persons of unquestionable integrity to investigate the allegation of gross misconduct against the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; and the panel to report its findings to the House within three months of its appointment.”
The Deputy Governor, Olaniyan had recently dumped the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Recall that the House of Assembly wrote a notice of allegations to the Deputy Governor alleging of 5 different allegations.
The notice was signed by 23 members of the house. The petition entitled “Petition And Notice of Allegations of the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Engineer Rauf Olaniyan” reads in parts.
“Consequent upon listed below, we the under listed elected Honourable members of the 9th assembly hereby allege the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Eng. Rauf Olaniyan with the following allegations:
“Gross misconduct, Abuse of office, Financial recklessness, Abandonment of office, official duty, insubordination and other offences.
“This is in accordance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended in 2011.”
The Deputy Governor approached the court to stop the impeachment move.
The House, during its plenary said the Deputy Governor was yet to respond to the allegations.
There was tensed argument at the floor of the house as the Minority Leader of the house, Rt Hon Ashimiyu Alarape (Atiba) raised an observation about the process.
Alarape said the process and the actions of the house were against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
He was, however, overruled by the Speaker saying no debate on the issue under discussion.
