APPEAL COURT STRONGLY LAMPOONED TRIAL COURT: NULLIFIES THE IMPEACHMENT OF EX-DEPUTY GOVERNOR AND ORDERED THE IMMEDIATE PAYMENT OF ALL DUE

Chief Alli Olanusi, Ex-Deputy Governor , Ondo State

The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure had on friday, 24th March, 2017 nullified the impeachment of the ex-Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Chief Alli Olanusi as it ordered the immediate payment of all his benefits, salaries, entitlement, allowances and all due to him from the day he was wrongfully impeached till its tenures expires. All benefits as the ex-deputy Governor are also to be enjoyed.

Chief Alli Olanusi was wrongfully impeached and removed from office as the deputy Governor of Ondo State on 27th April, 2015 in a rushed procedure of just one day when the constitution vide section 188(1-11) states the procedure longetivity of Seven months.

Chief Ali Olanusi was removed by an impeachment proceeding that commenced on 24th April, 2015, the 25th and 26th of April being a weekend, he was hurriwdly pronounced removed on monday 27th of April, 2016 as early as 8am by the state House of Assembly on trumped up charges after he defected from Labour Party to All Progressive Party in exercise of his constitutional right.

You will recall The the ex-Governor of The State also defected from The Labour Party to Peoples Democratic  Party. The defection of the Deputy Governor triggered the a strained relationship between the ex-Governor, of the State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and the illegally impeached Deputy Governor.

While delivering the 79 pages judgement, the presiding Justice, Mohammed Danjuma and other members of the panel of the appeal unanimously condemned the attitude of the trial court by playing into the hands of the defendants whose aims are always to waste time. The trial court was condemned for failing to see the urgency and need to do timely justice in a case that attracts national importance and constitutionality as impeachment proceeding which is commenced by originating summons, but instead went ahead and unilaterally ordered the filing of pleadings to waste more time in the face of no dispute or contention in the affidavit evidence before it.

RICHARMOND Natha-Alade, from the chambers of Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) & Co., Counsel to the Appellant

Richarmond O. Natha-Alade, the Counsel to the Appellant representing the chambers of Adeniyi Akintola (SAN) & Co, while commending the judgement describes same and a fantastically fantastic judgement. He hailed the judgement as the victory for Nigerian people and constitutionality. He expressed hope and stated, "We look forward to a date when the appellate court would have original jurisdiction on impeachment matters..."

Richarmond O. Natha-Alade stated further while addressing the three men panel "...in this court, we've seen justice in play, we've seen equity in play and by the content of this judgement, another landmark history is made, we thank your Lordships a billion time"

Chief Alli Olanusi while reacting to the judgement, expressed how happy he is to see justice done although it took about two years. He expressed disappointment over how the lower court handled the matter and how time were wasted till the tenure expired, yet, the lower court ordered the filing of pleadings in the face of no contention or serious dispute on the face of illegality perpetrated by the Defendant/Respondent to impeach him.

Chief Alli Olanusi however wished and hope that a free and uninfluenced judiciary will one day be in place for the nation Nigeria.

We give all for Benefits...