Following the commencement of impeachment proceedings against him, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has denied receiving any letter from the State House of Assembly accusing him of gross misconduct.
Aiyedatiwa said the impeachment process cannot be conducted on the pages of newspapers or national television.
The deputy governor is being accused of gross misconduct while he served as the acting governor in the absence of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who was on three-month sick leave abroad.
The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Oshati Olatunji, announced the commencement of impeachment proceedings against the deputy governor when he appeared on Channels Television on Friday.
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“There are allegations against the deputy governor bordering on misappropriation of funds. We are duty bound as legislators to do our job. We are not witch-hunting anybody. This includes a N30 million allegation and violation of the constitution.”
Reacting, Aiyedatia said it was worrisome that Olatunji would make such a claim without providing evidence.
In a statement he personally signed, titled, ‘I have not been served with notice of gross misconduct by the Ondo State House of Assembly’, the deputy governor urged Nigerians to disregard Olatunji’s claim.
Parts of the statement read, “My attention has been drawn to claims made by the Ondo State House of Assembly through its member and Chairman of the House Committee on Information, honounble Olatunji Oslati, on national television to the extent that I have been served with notice of acts of gross misconduct by the House of Assembly of Ondo State.
“It is pertinent to put on record that as of today, Monday, September 25, 2023, I have not received any official communication or any “letter of allegations of gross misconduct” from the Ondo State House of Assembly.
“I find it especially worrying that the spokesman of the House of Assembly would go on national television to speak on such a matter without any evidence to show that such a letter has been delivered to me.”