The Ondo State High Court in Akure imposed a fine of N200,000 on the state’s deputy governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, due to the absence of his lawyer in court.
According to The PUNCH, Aiyedatiwa’s legal representative failed to appear to argue the motion aimed at halting his impeachment proceedings initiated by the state Chief Judge and the House of Assembly.
The court also instructed the deputy governor to pay N50,000 each to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the Clerk, and the state Chief Judge, who were the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth respondents in the case.
Justice O. Akintan-Osadebay, the judge, had previously dismissed Aiyedatiwa’s case, citing concerns of judicial process abuse, given a prior suit he filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja, regarding the same impeachment matter.
Following the dismissal of his case, Aiyedatiwa filed a notice of appeal and an application seeking to halt the Assembly and the Chief Judge from proceeding with the impeachment until his appeal was heard.
However, when the case was called in Akure on Tuesday, the counsel representing the Assembly and the state Chief Judge were present, but the deputy governor’s lawyer was notably absent.
The counsel for the Assembly,Femi Emodamori, pointed out that the motion for an injunction had been adjourned to Tuesday, as agreed upon by both parties, and expressed surprise at Aiyedatiwa’s counsel’s absence, suggesting that no communication was received regarding the absence.
Justice O. Akintan-Osadebay postponed the hearing of the motion to November 7, 2023, and imposed a cost of N200,000 on Aiyedatiwa for causing unnecessary delays to the court and the involved parties.
