Osun House of Assembly has on Monday nullified the purported impeachment of the Chairman, Osogbo South Local Council Development Area, Akeem Olaoye, saying the procedure followed was faulty.
The Speaker, State of Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye at plenary after receiving the report of the joint Committees on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Judiciary, Legal Matters, Public petitions and Human Rights on the matter asked that the Chairman and the Parliamentarians in the council to resume at their offices and not involve in act that could disrupt public peace.
Recall that following the purported impeachment of council boss, the Assembly as part of its intervention to forestall breakdown of law and order had ordered the parliamentarians to vacate the council pending the completion of its investigation.
According to a statement by the Press Secretary to the Speaker, Kunle Alabi, Owoeye held that the Parliamentarians failed to follow laid down procedure as contained in section 19 (a) (b) (c) and (d) of the State of Osun Local Government Areas (Creation and Administration) Law, 2015 for the removal of the the Chairman.
The Speaker noted that the Parliamentarians have the power to remove/impeach the Chairman but such power could not be exercised without following necessary procedure.
He pointed out that it will be absurd for the House of Assembly to proceed to act on faulty procedure, saying the Parliamentarians committed a procedural error by completing the impeachment before forwarding it to the Assembly.
According to him, “The present resolution of the Assembly has not in any way vindicated the two parties and the earliest order asking them not to parade themselves within the precinct of the Council was borne out of the need for peace to reign.
“The Parliamentarians has the right to remove or suspend any of its members but the normal process stipulated by the law of the land must be followed appropriately.
“It should be on record that the position of the law on the process of impeachment is clear. Parliamentarians should get themselves used to the law, this Assembly can’t fold her arms and watch Impunity thrive.
“The House of Assembly under my watch will not hesitate to do the needful on any Chairman found wanting if the procedure is right”, the Speaker emphasised.
The Assembly in a related development also stated that the suspension of Olorunda Local Government Chairman failed to follow the laid down procedure.
