Fidelis David in Akure

The outgoing Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly and Legislator representing Odigbo Constituency 1, The Hon. Iroju Ogundeji, yesterday requested the transfer of his case against the State Assembly from the new Chief Justice of Ondo State, Judge Williams Akintoroye, to another judge for an impartial trial and a speedy dispensation from Justice.

Ogundeji was impeached last year following the crisis that erupted in the House of Assembly ahead of the October 10 governor’s election in Ondo state, where he opposed to a decision to dismiss the then vice-governor, Mr. Agboola Ajayi.

A panel to investigate an allegation of serious misconduct against the former vice president was also ushered in by the assembly as assembly leadership said 20 of the twenty-six members signed the deputy’s dismissal. -President.

In a letter obtained by THISDAY to Akure, Ogundeji called her impeachment null and void, insisting that the assembly leadership does not have the required number of lawmakers to remove her because it was done clandestinely.

He then went to the State High Court to challenge his indictment.

He said in his letter to the state’s chief justice that he was no longer comfortable with the new chief justice’s fraternization with the defendants in the case before him.

The letter read in part: The recent elevation and appointment of your Lordship as Chief Justice will preoccupy your Lordship with many administrative tasks, which will certainly hamper the swift prosecution of the matter. Your Lordship mentioned emphatically in open court when Your Lordship stated that it hopes the matter will come to an end at the end of the new legal year. A case that had been filed on December 1, 2020 is the deadline, not yet heard.

“Your Lordship expressly congratulated the President of ODHA and his ex-deputy during the confirmation of Your Lordship on Tuesday, September 28, 2021.”

He noted that “the position which is in dispute before Your Lordship. Your Lordship has specifically mentioned that the House has been stable lately due to the harmony between the speaker and the contested Vice-President. The House divided against itself will never hold out. Your Lordship then declared that affliction would not arise in the House of Assembly for the second time.

“The express interpretation of this statement is a direct reference to my distant relationship with the speaker as his deputy, whose unlawful dismissal case is pending before Your Lordship.

“The ODHA speaker, the Right Honorable Bamidele Oleyelogun, and the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, who are accused and counsel in the case, boasted to me that my case had been settled with Your Lordship , all the more so when Your Lordship has promised to work in harmony with the house upstairs of the House of Assembly during your confirmation ceremony.

“It may be of interest to Your Lordship to note that the Registrar has openly announced to the lawyers and litigants present in court on October 5, 2021, that only cases partially heard in Court 2 will be heard in the current Court 1, all other cases are retained in Tribunal 2, my case was not heard in part because Your Lordship ordered the filing of pleadings and, in accordance with the court’s direction, pleadings had just been completed. “

He added that “the trial has not started. No witnesses were called, so listing my case to begin the hearing in your court clearly suggests the court’s interest.

“Therefore, I am not convinced that I will obtain justice from the Court of Your Lordship, coupled with an incessant adjournment since December 1, 2020. Your Lordship’s interest strongly suggests possible interest, bias and prejudice . Video recording of Your Lordship’s statement is available on request.