At last the Ondo State House of Assembly has lifted the suspension order placed on four members of the Assembly.
The lifting of the suspension may not be unconnected with the planned litigation of against the leadership of the Assembly for flagrant disobedience to court order.
The four lawmakers include the former Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, Favour Tomomewo, Adewinle Adewale Williams and Akinrindibo Leonard.
The suspended lawmakers were amongst the nine that did not sign the impeachment notice serve the deputy governor, Hon Agboola Ajayi.
Recall that the Speaker, Rt Hon Bamidele Oleyologun and the leadership of the Assembly have since disobeyed the court order that the four lawmakers be reinstated and their entitlements paid.
Rt Hon Oleyelogun, the Clerk Bode Adeyelu, Parliamentary Secretary, Hon Abayomi Akinruntan and the Deputy-Majority leader, Hon Oladiji Adesanmi who were served form 49 (contempt of court committal) by the Ondo state High Court over their failure to obey the courts order to reinstate four suspended lawmakers last week would have been arraigned in court this Thursday for contempt of court.
The leadership in a statement issued by the chairman House Committee on information, Hon Gbenga Omole said that the suspension order placed on the four lawmakers has been lifted.
Omole pointed out that the speaker, Rt Hon Oleyelogun at the plenary Speaking explained that the Honourables, Iroju Ogundeji, Favour Tomomewo and Adewale Williams were suspended in line with the provisions of the rules and standing orders of the House at parliamentary and ratified at plenary .
“Oleyelogun added that Honourable Tomide Leonard Akinrinbido was suspended after the House at plenary adopted the recommendation of the ad-hoc committee set up to investigate allegation of misconduct against him over the use of unparliamentary language, least expected of a Honourable member.
“The Speaker noted that the four Honourable Members went to court to challenge their suspension following which judgement was delivered in their favour.
“He however maintained that the House was not served with the court judgement until recently.
” Surprisingly, the House was not served with these judgements until recently. But because their suspension was done at plenary, the House based on its regulatory proceedings had to consider the judgement at its parliamentary where a resolution to seek the advice of the Judiciary and Legal Committee on the court judgement was reached”.
According to the Speaker, ” the House Committee on Judiciary and the Legal Department advised that the House should obey the judgement for peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationship between the Judiciary and the Legislature.
“Mr. Speaker said the legislative arm of government being a law-making organ is a respecter of the rule of law hence the compliance with the court order on the reinstatement of the suspended Lawmakers.
“He therefore ruled that indefinite suspension order placed on the four Lawmakers should be lifted to allow them perform their legislative functions as Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly.
According to the Speaker, ” the House Committee on Judiciary and the Legal Department advised that the House should obey the judgement for peaceful co-existence and harmonious relationship between the Judiciary and the Legislature.
“Mr. Speaker said the legislative arm of government being a law-making organ is a respecter of the rule of law hence the compliance with the court order on the reinstatement of the suspended Lawmakers.
“He therefore ruled that indefinite suspension order placed on the four Lawmakers should be lifted to allow them perform their legislative functions as Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly.
Reacting to the move by the leadership of the assembly to recall them, the member representing Ondo West constituency I , Hon. Tomide Akinribido promised “to rededicate himself to serving his constituency and the state at large.
“I want to use this medium to appreciate all my constituents and supporters for their perseverance and staunch loyalty throughout the legal tussle.
“I also rededicate myself to offer premium, vibrant and effective legislative representation as always. While also assuring my constituents that i will swing into action immediately by looking into areas where my absence from office has short-changed them, with a view to making amends where possible.
“I admonish every member of my constituency to put the past behind them and let us forge ahead with unity to achieve development and progress of our community.”
