The ongoing impasse at the Ondo state House of Assembly continued on Thursday as the Four suspended Lawmakers reinstated by the Court of Appeal sitting in Akure on Wednesday were unable to gain entrance into the building.
Justice Folayemi Omoleye had ruled that the Lawmakers’ suspension was frivolous and null and void, adding that they should resume their duties with immediate effect.
Related: Court Of Appeal Okays Reinstatement Of Suspended Lawmakers In Ondo
The affected lawmakers are Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, Favour Tomomewo, Wale Williams and Tomide Akinribido.
But a video footage obtained by The Precision NG on Thursday indicated that the Lawmakers met a closed Assembly and were unable to access their offices, though the members are presently on recess.
The deputy speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Iroju Ogundeji while addressing journalists at the entrance of the gate expressed dismay that the Assembly complex was not accessible to them even after the ruling by the appellate court.
“You can see yourself that the gate is locked. Everywhere has been barricaded. The gate to the Assembly complex is always open for anyone to access, so it baffles us now that the gate is permanently locked,” he said.
The one-minute video showed Mr Ogundeji recounting his conversation with the Clerk of the House, Bode Adeyelu to the newsmen, only for the recording to stop.
One of the Lawmakers, Hon. Akinribido however informed The Precision NG that Mr Adeyelu only promised them he would speak to the security officers to open the gate. He said they were kept waiting for over an hour and when the phone number of the Clerk was redialed, it had been switched off.
When The Precision NG put a phone call across to the Speaker, Rt Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun on Thursday afternoon, he denied having hands in the ordeal of the Lawmakers, adding that the Assembly is on recess.
“I can even do a video recording of myself and send to you now. I am at my official lodge at the moment,” Oleyelogun said.
The Speaker also said the case treated on Wednesday by the appellate Court was a single motion and that the substantive matter is still in Court.
He added that since the matter is still subjudice, the Assembly cannot discuss the reinstatement of the Lawmakers at plenary.
“Recall that the Lawmakers were suspended on the floor of the House and if we are to discuss their reinstatement, it has to be that the Lawmakers have withdrawn the case in court,” Oleyelogun said.
The Precision NG reports that the lawmakers were suspended in the wake of the crisis which engulfed between the Governor of the state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his deputy, Agboola Ajayi.
Ajayi had defected to the PDP and later ZLP to contest the October 10 governorship election with his boss.
Not happy with the development, an impeachment process was instituted by the APC dominated Assembly against the deputy governor but could not form the constitutional requirement to impeach Ajayi as some Lawmakers moved against such move.
Consequently, the Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyelogun suspended the Lawmakers over what it described as gross misconduct and indiscipline.
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