Impeached Ogun speaker walks out on probe panel

The impeached speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, on Monday, allegedly walked out on members of a eight-man panel set up to probe allegations levelled against him by the aggrieved members of the assembly. Olumo, representing Ifo I constituency, was impeached last week Tuesday, by 18 members of the assembly during […]

The impeached speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, on Monday, allegedly walked out on members of a eight-man panel set up to probe allegations levelled against him by the aggrieved members of the assembly.

Olumo, representing Ifo I constituency, was impeached last week Tuesday, by 18 members of the assembly during a plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mrs Bolanle Ajayi.

He was impeached over alleged gross misconduct, high handedness, lack of focus and transparency, arrogance, poor leadership style, financial misappropriation and inciting members against themselves.

The lawmakers elected Elemide Oludaisi representing Odeda constituency as the new speaker.

Daily Trust reports that the controversial impeachment has since thrown the legislature into confusion as Oluomo insisted that he remains the speaker, saying his removal did not follow due process.

However, the assembly reconvened on Monday and set up a eight-man committee to probe the 11 allegations levelled against the four-time lawmaker.

Deputy Speaker presided over the plenary and named Musefiu Lamidi, representing Ado Odo/ Ota 2 State Constituency to serve as Chairman of the Ad hoc committee, Oluseun Adesanya as Vice Chairman.

Babatunde Tella, Damilola Soneye, Lukman Adeleye, Fola Salami and Olusegun Odunuga served as members, while the Director of Legislative Service, Temtope Hokon, served as Secretary.

Competent sources at the assembly told Daily Trust that members of the panel immediately swung into action and invited Oluomo to appear before them at 3pm on Monday, an invitation he honoured.

But there was a mild drama as Oluomo allegedly walked out on members of the panel.

Insiders told our correspondent that shortly after the committee chairman introduced himself, members of the panel and reasons for the invitation extended to the embattled legislator, Oluomo raised a number of objections including composition of the panel.

Oluomo was said to have told the panel that all the eight members were not eligible because they were all signatories to the impeachment notice against him.

The impeached speaker also reportedly said he would not be able to respond to questions from the panel because the matter is already before the court.

The source told our correspondent that the panel insisted that already 24 members of the house had signed the impeachment notice against and as such, a house rule allows them to wave the lacuna in order to achieve the purpose of the committee.

It was gathered that Oluomo then asked the committee chairman to allow him to take him to leave, a request that was declined.

It was further gathered that the committee chairman told Oluomo to “feel free to walk out.”

“After a back and forth between him and the committee members, he eventually walked out of the committee room,” sources told our correspondent.

A member of the committee confirmed to our correspondent that Oluomo did walk out on members of the committee.

Our correspondent gathered that the committee may submit its report to the house on Tuesday for deliberations and possible actions.

Speaking with newsmen, Oluomo said he sought permission to excuse himself from the session.

“I asked them to excuse me, but the chairman said they cannot excuse me and that I must listen to all the questions… And I said ‘no, with due respect, Mr Chairman, allow me to bow and go.’

“They now said if I want to walk away, I am free to walk away. And I said I am not walking away, but please allow me to go because any question I answer is prejudice. I cannot answer any questions about the removal,” he told newsmen.

When asked about the next line of action, Oluomo responded “The case is in court and the next thing is to meet in court. The court has listened to me and given a notice that we should come one the seventh of February.”