Aribisogan’s Impeachment Will be Challenged In Court, Says Babalola

Legal luminary, Aare Afe Babalola (SAN) has said the principle of fair hearing was violated in the entire process of removing Hon Gboyega Aribisogan as the speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly.

The founder of Afe Babalola University Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD) who condemned the process leading to Aribisogan’s ouster said Aribisogan who was elected by the majority of lawmakers last week ought to have been given enough time to respond to allegations against him before his removal.

The lawmaker who represents Ikole constituency 1 in the election conducted by the clerk of the House last week to replace late Speaker, Funminiyi Afuye, was elected last after scoring 15 votes to defeat Bunmi Adelugba of Emure constituency who scored 10 votes.

His election was, however, overturned on Monday at the plenary and when some lawmakers elected Adelugba as the new speaker following the reported impeachment of Aribisogan for allegedly sabotaging the passage of the 2022 appropriation bill among other allegations.

The elder statesman reacted yesterday to the power tussle in the Assembly in Ado Ekiti at the 3rd Afe Babalola Distinguished Personality Lecture.

Babalola, who called on the state council of traditional rulers and other stakeholders to intervene and find a lasting solution to the impasse, said the impeachment would be challenged in court in the interest of peace and rule of law.

He saidt leading lawyers from Ekiti State in the country would in a matter of days release a joint statement on the issue.

He said, “Last week, 15 lawmakers elected Gboyega Aribisogan as speaker and I was sitting in my house here, within a few days, some lawmakers met again to remove the man with lawful votes of 15. Is that peaceful and lawful? Before you can have peace anywhere, there must be justice and it is sad that in this country, we don’t obey the laws.