Mr Rauf Olaniyan, Deputy Governor of Oyo State has been served an impeachment notice by the Oyo State House of Assembly.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the State House of Assembly levelled five allegations against the Deputy Governor and gave him seven days within which to respond.
Twenty-four (24) lawmakers signed the petition, which was read during plenary, against Olaniyan.
In the petition, entitled: “Petition and Notice of Allegations against the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan,” he was accused of gross misconduct, abuse of office, financial recklessness, abandonment of office and official duties and insubordination.
“This is in accordance with Section 188 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended),” the petition read in part.
The lawmakers, who signed the petition, included: Fadeyi Muhammed (Ona Ara), Onaolapo Sanjo (Ogbomosho South), Babalola Olasunkanmi (Egbeda), Adebisi Yussuf (Ibadan South-West I), Okedoyin Julius (Saki West) and Adebayo Babajide (Ibadan North II).
Others were: Kehinde Olatunde (Akinyele II), Olajide Akintunde (Lagelu), Mustapha Akeem (Kajola), Popoola Ademola (Ibadan South-East II), Owolabi Olusola (Ibadan North-East II), Olagoke Olamide (Ibadan North-East I), Olayanji Kazeem (Irepo/Olorunsogo) and Ojedokun Peter (Ibarapa North).
The remaining lawmakers were: Gbadamosi Saminu (Saki East/Atisbo), Mabaje Adekunle (Iddo), Oluwafowokanmi Oluwafemi (Ibadan South-West II), Akeem Adedibu (Iwajowa), Fatokun Ayo (Akinyele I), Rasak Ademola (Ibadan South-East I), Obadara Akeem (Ibadan North-West), Oyekunle Fola (Ibadan North I) and Adetunji Francis (Oluyole).
In his reaction shortly after the petition had been read by Clerk of the assembly, Yetunde Awe, the Speaker, Mr Adebo Ogundoyin, said it met the two-thirds requirement to initiate the process.
Ogundoyin said that the assembly would give Olaniyan seven days within which to respond to the allegations, adding that failure to do so within the period could lead to the commencement of an impeachment move against him.
“The window of response takes immediate effect and to lapse on Wednesday, June 22,” he said.
TNG reports the House, thereafter, adjourned sitting till June 16.
Recall that Olaniyan had on June 5, 2022, announced his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Olaniyan announced his defection while speaking with newsmen in his private office at Ojoo area of Ibadan.
He, however, said the defection didn’t affect his position as the deputy governor of the state, saying he had not resigned.
The deputy governor added that he took the decision after consultations with his supporters from across the state.
Olaniyan who described politics as free entry and free exit, added that all his political supporters prevailed on him to join the APC.
The development doused tension and rumours over the sour relationship between the deputy governor and his boss, Gov. Seyi Makinde.
Olaniyan was welcomed into the APC by the governorship candidate of the party, Sen. Teslim Folarin.