By Dayo Johnson
Akure—LAWMAKERS in Ondo State, yesterday, served impeachment notice on the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, for alleged gross misconduct.
Alhaji Olanusi defected to the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, 48 hours to the last presidential and National Assembly elections in the state.
Some of the seven allegations levelled against him included financial misappropriation, absenteeism from official duties and allegedly causing political disaffection in the cabinet of the state government.
The deputy governor’s impeachment notice was signed by 20 out of 26 members of the house.
Motion for his impeachment was moved by the Majority Leader of the house, Hon. Ifedayo Akinsoyinu from Ondo West Constituency II and was seconded by one of his kinsmen, Hon. Yinka Banso, from Akoko North West Constituency I.
The lawmakers said that their action was in compliance with Section 188 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
At yesterday’s plenary, the Speaker, Rt. Hon Jumoke Akindele, said the deputy governor should be served personally, through the office of the Deputy Governor or through his official residential quarters.
Olanusi
Other allegations against Olanusi include false allegation against the state governor, absenteeism and truancy from official assignment and engagement among others.
They allegations include: “That Alhaji Alli Olanusi, being the holder of the office of deputy governor, permitted and condoned the perpetuation of fraudulent activities in the office of deputy governor in that one Alhaji Bola Idris Olanusi, the younger brother and Special Assistant in the office of the deputy governor procured false LPO with the knowledge of Alhaji Alli Olanusi and obtained from ESHO Resources International Limited, two trucks of AGO with forged documents and for personal benefits, thereby putting the office of the deputy governor into disrepute.
“That Alhaji Olanusi being the holder of the office of deputy governor of Ondo State and having full knowledge that his younger brother, Alhaji Bola Irish Olanusi, who at all material times was his personal staff had engaged in activities unbecoming of an official of government, refused to sanction, query or discipline the said staff, thus bringing the office of the deputy governor into disrepute.
“That Alhaji Olanusi, being the holder of the office of deputy governor of Ondo State engaged in absenteeism and truancy by regularly assenting himself from office, place of work and all other official engagements specifically between April 13 to 17 April and April 20, 2015, without lawful excuse or authorisation but generally acting in a manner inconsistent with the dictates and expectations of the high office of the deputy governor of a state, thus undermining the governance process, an act which amounts to gross misconduct under the constitution.
“That Alhaji Olanusi, being the holder of the office of deputy governor, at various dates, collected various sums of money, N39.9 million between 2009 and 2014, for the purpose of travelling and medical bills when in actual fact, the said Alhaji Olanusi did not travel on the said specified dates or did not travel at all, and or did not expend the approved medical bills as appropriate, thereby unlawfully enriching himself and or causing loss to the state government. “
They also alleged that he undermined the office of the governor by causing political disaffection and deliberately working at cross purposes with the governor and the state EXCO, with a view to destabilizing the government by openly canvassing for the impeachment of the governor.
The impeachment notice is a nullity —Dep Gov
The embattled deputy governor has described the serving of impeachment notice on him as laughable.
A statement by his Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Adesanya in Akure, said: “We are aware of the purported impeachment notice served on the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, by the Ondo State House of
Assembly.
“The Deputy Governor had written to the Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Friday, April 17, 2015, with Ref. No. OBG/A/136/67, that he will be going on routine medical check up outside the country.
“Baba had since travelled out on Saturday, April 18, 2015.
“So it is laughable for the rubber-stamp House of Assembly to have claimed it has served the Deputy Governor an impeachment notice knowing that, the law does not permit it to serve impeachment notice in absentia. The notice is therefore a nullity.
But Alhaji Olanusi while personally reacting to the impeachment notice via a text message, said the Assembly was famous for making resolutions without proper documentation.
The embattled deputy governor who is not in the state, however, promised to react fully if he is officially informed.
He said: “ The Ondo State House of Assembly is noted for making laws and passing resolutions without sitting and recording. There are many repetitive events in this regard.
“A case in point was the passage of the OSOPADEC budget last year. You will get my full reaction if and whenever I am officially and lawfully informed.”
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