Impeached Ekiti Speaker, Aribisogan To Take Legal Action, Insists His Impeachment Is Illegal

The impeached speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Gboyega Aribisogan, has disclosed plans to approach the court over the case of his alleged illegal impeachment by some members of the state legislature.

Naija News reports that the Ekiti-aggrieved lawmaker said plans are underway to go to court, and that consultations are still ongoing with his lawyers.

According to him, It cannot be later than this week, because any moment from now, “we are filing our papers in court.”

The embattled lawmaker told Punch that he had already dragged the police to court for alleged “illegal occupation” of the Assembly complex for six days.

Naija News recalls that Aribisogan was elected Ekiti speaker on 15 November by 15 members of the 25-member Assembly.

Aribisogan, who was impeached on Monday after six days in office as speaker maintained that “The purported impeachment of Mr Speaker and suspension of seven members are illegal, ultra vires, null and void and of no effect. The actions are not legally sustainable and will definitely be quashed at a court of competent jurisdiction.

“We are going to court; there is no doubt about that. We are still consulting with our lawyers. It cannot be later than this week. Any moment from now, we are filing our papers in court.

“We had filed an action against the police at the Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti, on Monday. It is about the illegal occupation of the Ekiti State House of Assembly for six days; we have sued the police for that. The police illegally sealed the Assembly for six days. They have to explain to us with credible evidence.”

His resolution to go to court follows his impeachment by about 17 lawmakers on Monday at a plenary presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hakeem Jamiu, accusing him of sabotaging the passage of the 2022 Supplementary Budget Bill.

Aribisogan was replaced by the newly appointed speaker, Mrs Olubunmi Adelugba.

However, Naija News gathered that the police claimed to be acting on an intelligence report of a purported invasion of the House, therefore it sealed the Assembly complex since November 16.