Nigeria news : Appeal Court dismisses Ondo Assembly’s suit over suspended lawmakers

The stay of execution filed by the Ondo State House of Assembly against the High Court’s judgment reinstating three suspended lawmakers has been dismissed by the Court of Appeal.

The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure on Wednesday queried the appellants for bringing a frivolous suit before the court.

Following the development, Justice Folayemi Omoleye directed the state legislature, represented by the Solicitor-General of the State, Mr. Cyril Akinrinsola, to immediately allow the suspended lawmakers to resume legislative functions without hindrance.

The stay of execution appeal was against the High Court judgment that reinstated the Assembly’s Deputy Speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, Hon. Wale Williams and Hon. Favour Tomomewo.

In his reaction, Iroju described the ruling as justice for humanity as he emphasized that hope is still alive in the nation’s judicial system.

On July 8, 2020, the lawmakers were suspended indefinitely by the Assembly’s leadership over what was described as an unparliamentary act.

Recall that on August 28, 2020, an Akure High Court had quashed the lawmakers’ suspension after the Presiding Judge, Justice Ademola Bola, described the suspension as illegal, null and void, and of no effect. The lawmakers who are loyal to the embattled Deputy Governor of the State, Hon. Agboola Ajayi was among the nine lawmakers who refused to sign the impeachment notice against Ajayi, who defected from the All Progressives Congress, APC.