Twenty-three members of the Oyo State House of Assembly have passed a motion directing the state Chief Judge to appoint a seven-member panel to investigate allegations of gross misconduct against the state deputy governor, Rauf Olaniyan.

The motion, jointly sponsored by the majority leader, Sanjo Adedoyin (Ogbomoso South) and Akintunde Olajide, representing the Lagelu State constituency, directed that the panel report back to the assembly in three months.

On June 17, a correspondence/petition titled: “Notice of Allegations of Gross Misconduct against the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Mr Rauf Olaniyan”, was read at the plenary.

In the petition, the 23 members accused the deputy governor of gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial recklessness, abandonment of office and insubordination.

The lawmakers, thereafter, served the deputy governor and all other members of the legislature a copy of the allegations.

While reading the motion, Mr Adedoyin said the deputy governor had not responded to the allegations served him by the assembly.

The Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, commented that the issue was no more with the assembly, as it had been handed over to the state Chief Judge, Muntar Abimbola.

“We have no say whether Olaniyan is guilty or not. The issue will be determined by the seven members to be constituted by the state Chief Judge,” Mr Ogundoyin said.

The legislators, therefore, adjourned the plenary until July 19.

The deputy governor had jointly taken the state House of Assembly, the speaker, and the clerk to court over the impeachment move against him by the lawmakers.

Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo High Court then ordered parties to maintain status quo pending the hearing of the application.

(NAN)