On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division, fixed February 8 for a hearing of an appeal filed by former Deputy Governor Rauf Olaniyan of Oyo challenging his impeachment by the House of Assembly.

The first and second respondents in the appeal are the Oyo House of Assembly, the clerk, the Oyo chief judge, the attorney-general, and Kayode Christopher, the third to fifth respondents.

The appeal panel chaired by Justice Yargata Nimpa fixed February 8 for a hearing after granting the application for an extension of time of brief of argument filed by counsel to the first and second respondents, Samuel Oyadoyin.

The panel also granted the motion of the appellant’s counsel, Kazeem Gbadamosi, to deem the appellant’s reply brief of November 23, 2023, as properly filed before the court.

Before granting the application and motion, the panel asked the counsel to the third and fifth respondents, O.A. Ogunniran, the director of litigation in the state Ministry of Justice, whether he was opposed to it, to which he said ‘No’.

“The application for extension of time to file a brief of the argument of first and second respondents and the motion of the applicant is granted. The case is adjourned to February 8 for hearing,” Mr Nimpa said.

Justice Bayo Taiwo of Oyo State High Court had, in his judgment on January 9, 2023, declared as constitutional the process of Olaniyan’s impeachment by the assembly and, consequently, upheld the impeachment.

Not satisfied with the judgment, Olaniyan had approached the appellate court, praying it to set it aside and nullify his impeachment for not complying with constitutional provisions and thus lacking a fair hearing.

The assembly impeached the former deputy governor over allegations of financial recklessness, misconduct and insubordination. 

(NAN)