Osun Assembly orders Osogbo South LCDA Parliamentarians back to office, faults impeachment procedure

The Osun State House of Assembly has described the purported impeachment of the Chairman of Osogbo South Local Council Development Area as a faulty procedure.

The Osun Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Timothy Owoeye at plenary after receiving the report of the joint Committees on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and Judiciary, Legal Matters, Public petitions and Human Rights asked that the Chairman and other Parliamentarians resume at their offices and not involve in act that could disrupt public peace.

Owoeye held that the Parliamentarians failed to follow laid down procedure as contained in section 19 (a) (b) (c) and (d) of the State of Osun Local Government Areas (Creation and Administration) Law, 2015 for the removal of the the Chairman.

He pointed out that it will be absurd for the House of Assembly to proceed to act on faulty procedure, saying the Parliamentarians committed a procedural error by completing the impeachment before forwarding it to the Assembly.

The Speaker however noted that the Parliamentarians have the power to remove/impeach the Chairman but such power could not be exercised without following necessary procedure.

In his words, “The present resolution of the Assembly has not in any way vindicated the two parties and the earliest order asking them not parade themselves within the pricinct of the Council was borne out of the need for peace to reign.

“The Parliamentarians has the right to remove or suspend any of it’s members but the normal process stipulated by the law of the land must be followed appropriately.

“It should be on record that the position of the law on the process of impeachment is clear. Parliamentarians should get themselves used to the law, this Assembly can’t fold her arms and watch Impunity thrive.

“The House of Assembly under my watch will not hesitate to do the needful on any Chairman found wanting if the procedure is right”. The Speaker emphasised.

In a related development, the Assembly also stated that the suspension of Olounda Local Government Chairman failed to follow the laid down procedure.