The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled October 16 for a ruling on the application made by Ondo State Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to withdraw his case against the Ondo State House of Assembly and others.
Aiyedatiwa had initiated legal proceedings against several parties, including the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services, Ondo State Governor, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Chief Judge of Ondo State, and the House of Assembly, in a motion on notice with the reference: FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023.
In his suit, he sought an interim injunction to restrain Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and his associates from interfering with his duties as the deputy governor of the state.
The court had previously granted his requests and set the matter for October 9.
During Monday’s proceedings, the Deputy Governor’s counsel, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, informed the court that the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, had established a Reconciliation Committee on October 6, 2023, to mediate the dispute among the involved parties. He argued that proceeding with the court case might hinder the party’s reconciliation efforts.
Adegboruwa also mentioned that on October 3, 2023, the Ondo Assembly had filed a petition with the National Judicial Council (NJC) against the presiding judge. He suggested that the court should await the NJC’s action on the petition before proceeding.
In response, the counsel for the Ondo State governor, Kazeem Gbadamosi, and the Chief Judge, Mutalib Ojo, urged the court to proceed with the case, emphasizing the need to determine the issue of jurisdiction first.
The assembly’s counsel, Femi Emodamori, informed the court that the Ondo Assembly had withdrawn the petition by sending a letter and affidavit to the NJC on October 6.
Justice Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, adjourned the case to October 16 to rule on the submitted arguments.
