Court Nullifies Gov. Ladoja's Impeachment!

BY Sunny Ofili with Reports from PM News    
Forwarded by Phil Tam-Al Alalibo 
 

Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan nullifies the impeachment of Senator Rashidi Ladoja as Oyo State Governor. Supporters of the impeached Governor of Oyo State, Alhaji Rasheed Adewolu  Ladoja, broke into wild jubilation this morning, as the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan declared the impeachment process as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

Reinstating the governor, the presiding Judge J.O. Ogebe ruled that if the incumbent administration led by Christopher Alao-Akala goes to Supreme Court, it would not win stressing that the process of the impeachment of Governor Ladoja was absolutely faulty.

Among the eight faulty processes were: the sitting of the legislators in an hotel rather than the State House of Assembly to deliberate on the impeachment; sending the notice of impeachment through the newspapers; impeachment carried out by 18 rather than 22 legislators; unavailability of affidavit of suspension; the time-frame of the process; and the declaration of lack of jurisdiction by the High Court, thereby declaring the process null and void.

Many lawyers hailed the ruling as a victory for democracy and a lesson to Nigerians  in general.

According to Bayo Shittu, and Sanyaolu Akinyele, representing Governor Ladoja's camp, Gov. Ladoja should be immediately reinstated as the constitutional and elected governor of Oyo state.

Shittu said, "The judgement is a judgement of a Court of Appeal and it is a full constitutional court that has decided on it. It is not just a three-man panel; it is a panel of five which is a full court of Nigeria.

"We thank God and the people of Oyo state. We thank God that at last we've had nullification of the purported impeachment, and by implication, Governor Ladoja remains the Governor of Oyo State as from today till the 29th May 2007.

"Don't let anybody harass us with going to Supreme Court. They went to Supreme Court once and they were disgraced from the Supreme Court. If they go again they'll fail. As from today, the so-called controversial governor Akala is no longer the governor of the state. His regime is an aberration."

Akinyele, too said: "The judgment of today is a landmark one.  It is of constitutional importance to this country. Two it has gone a long way to show that we don't have a legislature in Nigeria. It shows that the legislators are not powerful, that they are not the only one that can impeach a sitting governor; it involves the judiciary and the people".
As at press time attempt to contact Governor Akala or any of his aides proved abortive as his lawyers   left the court immediately after the ruling.

The judgment was delivered amid tight security with police armored vehicles on guard. Many legal practitioners and journalists who got to the venue as early as 9 am were locked out. Also no supporters from both side, and ordinary civilians were allowed to enter the court or even stay within the precincts of the court. Also, the ruling caused traffic jam in GRA and Dugbe areas of Ibadan.

Meanwhile, Lagos lawyer Femi Falana has described the ruling as a triumph for the rule of law. Falana said: "at least the reinstatement of Rasheed Ladoja clearly shows that the judicial system will be able to gain some respect.

Another lawyer, Festus Keyamo, said: "it is victory for democracy. The people can now manage democracy by following the rule of law."
Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja was impeached on Thursday January 12, 2006 by a group of 18 legislators loyal to the strongman of Ibadan politics Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu.  The impeachment resembled a military coup, as it was done with the partisan support of the Oyo state police command and the top echelon of the People's Democratic Party. In the run up to the impeachment, PDP's chairman, Ahmadu Ali even characterised Adedibu as the ''garrison commander'' of Oyo State.

Following Ladoja's clearly illegal impeachment, his deputy, Alao   Adebayo Akala was sworn in as the state Governor. The injustice and illegality of Ladoja removal spurred a massive protest on 23 January in Ibadan, Oyo State as thousands of people took to the streets. During the protest, the chairman of Campaign for Democracy (CD) Moshood Erubami was attacked and arrested by the police.

Ladoja who fought the impeachment process all the way in the court, swiftly challenged the impeachment.The legal battle which was initiated by three lawmakers namely Hassan Ogundoke, Babatunde Olaniyan and Jacob Oyekunle which had suffered many hitches following the controversial withdrawal of former judge M. Bolaji Yussuf from the matter was later reopened by a Court of Appeal in Ibadan. The case was referred  to the
Appeal Court following a Supreme Court ruling which affirmed that Ladoja had a right to challenge his removal.

The ruling which was earlier scheduled for last Wednesday was delivered in favour of Senator Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja today.
 
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 01 November 2006 )

Robot  Villager

# 1 Court Nullifies Gov. Ladoja's Impeachment! ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 01.11.2006 08:49

ithinkbetter  Villager

# 2 auspicious..ooo, abraxas..ooo, where una dey, abeg come help me comment this article...me i take my schiraz..i no fit talk now...this one self pass my head ooo..! Posted by ithinkbetter| 01.11.2006 09:08

Auspicious  Villager

# 3 Wooooooah! THE "GARRISON" HAS BEEN BREACHED! In your FACE, Adedibu, Obasanjo and Co! Yoruba talk say "Lala to r'oke, ile ni nbo!" - implying that whatever goes up(in this case, an illegality) shall come down. In two days, a clique in the PDP have lost two major cases. But wait o, this is Nigeria..with the Olusegun Obasanjo government in power. The rulings of the courts of law are only obeyed at will. We await to see what Lamidi, Matheew, Ahmadu and Olabode will do now. Another "Party Affair"? Maybe, who knows. Th Let the rule of law reign supreme in the land! May I recommend 10 solid GBOSAS to Judge J.O. Ogebe for standing up FOR the Rule of Law and for standing up TO a local illiterate area fada! Auspicious. Posted by Auspicious| 01.11.2006 09:14

jibitoye  Villager

# 4 This is great news and definitely another good day for democracy in Nigeria. What is left to be seen however is if the PDP, OBJ and his fellow travellers (in the journey to destroy whatever is left of sanity in Nigeria) will allow Ladoja to step back into Government House at Agodi! Alao Akala should be ashamed of himself. I think he is done politically now anyways, but wait o… this is Nigeria, for all OBJ cares Alao might still be there till May, 2007. Next up, declare Alams impeachment too unconstitutional (sorry no one has challenged that yet). That was the beginning of this charade of insanity but unfortunately it went unchallenged. High time, we start doing things the right way in Nigeria. Posted by jibitoye| 01.11.2006 09:52

Auspicious  Villager

# 5 =jibitoye;136792>Next up, declare Alams impeachment too unconstitutional (sorry no one has challenged that yet). That was the beginning of this charade of insanity but unfortunately it went unchallenged. Jibitoye, ALL: I really, really, really need to know - I am quite desperate - to know how Solomon Diepreye Alamieyeseigha's impeachment from his position as Executive Governor of the State of Bayelsa was unconstitutional. I don't know how I could have missed that. Can someone please enlighten me? Gwobezentashi, fashi say yu nor dey folo me talk for now, and enligthen me. Somebody? Anybody? Abraxas? I need to know PLEASE! Please no watery wuru-wuru-to-the-ansa conclusions like Son of the Delta's "gun-point impeachment" sha o. I want something conctrete - better to quote that part of the statutes that was breached in the impeachment of Alamieyesigha or something similar. Thank you, Folks! Auspicious. Posted by Auspicious| 01.11.2006 10:10

Zhul- qarnain  Villager

# 6 Note I do not support the thieving governors. However, every one knows that what happened in Bayelsa, Oyo, Ekiti and what is about to happen in Plateau amounts to a coup. Every discerning lawyer also knows that any independent court will not find it difficult to declare the 'impeachments' as null, void and unconstitutional. It is therefore not surprising that the Court of Appeal easily reached such a verdict based on the rule of law. The question is whether the rule of law can really prevail against the rule of man in Nigeria. Bcos the more I look the more I dey see state of OBJ, (sorry) of emergency. I tanda oneside dey await the next scene. My people e go dey interesting. Posted by Zhul- qarnain| 01.11.2006 11:15

DoubleWahala  Villager

# 7 This is what may happen: The case will proceed to the Supreme Court. A Stay of Execution of the judgement, pending the outcome of the appeal, will be secured. Time is of the essence; it depends on how long it takes the Supreme Court to adjudicate upon this appeal. The elections are barely half a year away. However, if the Supreme Court upholds the judgement of the Appeal Court (as it likely shall), Adedibu and his cohorts will sponsor violence in Oyo, to such an extent that, the Federal government will be 'forced':lol: to declare a State of Emergency in Oyo State. They will appoint an OBJ/PDP apologist to be the sole administrator, and life goes on... ...So sayeth my crystal ball. DoubleWahala Posted by DoubleWahala| 01.11.2006 11:32

holymonk  Villager

# 8 Villagers oohhhhhhhhhhh, where una dey? I foresee another 'STATE OF EMERGENCY' being declared in Oyo state. I foresee Adedibu, the ill-educated, freeloading political hound formenting trouble in his 'domain'. I foresee Alao Akala refusing to relinquish power for the rightful owner, his erstwhile boss, Rasheed Ladoja as, having tasted from the sweetness of it therof, relinquishing it is going to be more difficult to handle than when first tasted. I am no supporter of Ladoja, but a firm believer in the tenets of the proper application of the Rule of Law. Wuruwuru and magomago in high places is the order of the day. Bare faced disobedience and intransigience has become so well entrenched in all aspects of governance and political life in the country. Where do we go from here? Is this progress or retrogression? Na waoh, Nigeria we hail thee!!! Posted by holymonk| 01.11.2006 11:50

MrOneNaija  Villager

# 9 A LESSON AND A WARNING FOR THE COUPISTS LAYING SIEGE ON PLATEAU STATE This encouraging piece of news should serve as both a lesson and a warning for the usurpers currently laying siege on the constitutional order in Plateau, Anambra and elsewhere in the country. Credit should go to Justice Ogebe and his colleagues who have refused to be intimidated by the murderous antics of the senile thug going by the name of Adedibu and his sponsor, Baba Aremu popularly referred to as Abachanjo. The Egbo-Egbo-like Chief Judge of Plateau state, his kangaroo panel as well as the band of renegade lawmakers conspiring with the Aso Rock King to illegally seize power in Jos should take note. Now is the time for those who are genuinely interested in the sustenance of democracy in our country to stand firm and insist that the will of the people be respected in Oyo and other places where the rule of law has been so brazenly assaulted by a depraved and debauched gang led by a universally reviled madman. As I did posit in my latest commentary entitled " A 'Dancing Tortoise' and the State of the Nation", perhaps a far greater tragedy in the Ekiti fiasco - an embodiment of the gangster politics à la Baba Aremu - is the fact that Nigeria's so-called progressives in the likes of Gani Fawenhimi have chosen to play petty politics instead of calling a spade a spade and denouncing in no uncertain terms the illegalities associated with all the impeachment schemes, amongst other illegalities, under the current Obasanjo tyranny. Through their incoherence and duplicity, self-proclaimed human rights/pro-democracy activists and sundry interests have offered a dubious kind of comfort or legitimacy to the crying illegalities of the Obasanjo kleptocracy. I'm inclined to believing that this class of opportunists has constituted itself into an 'unconscious' partner or apologist of "amalacracy" as defined by the crude rantings of Oyo's pedestrian provincialist, Adedibu. http://www.nigeriavillagesq... And as I keep insisting, citizens should let it be known by a truant National Assembly that there can be no compromise in the defense of their rights and democratic aspirations. In Oyo, Anambra, Plateau, Benue, Abia, etc., Nigerians should be prepared to use "every means at their disposal" to neutralize the usurpers hell bent on perpetuating themselves in power through corrupt and violent ways. Posted by MrOneNaija| 01.11.2006 12:33

blackscorpion  Villager

# 10 Auspy, Lets be cautious in our euphoric jubilation.Like someone posted above it may all be a script being acted out.How will Adedibu react, will Akala take it lying low?Knowing Ibadan as a keg of petrol next to a suya stall it wont take anything to ignite and it may be the beginning of a re enactment of the Ekiti saga. Word is out that EFCC is primed to ruffle Tinubu's feather and if these acts are carried out simultaneously the low IQ leader we have may rush into another silly pronouncement. I think we are walking at the edge of a precipice and it may go either way.This matter will go to the supreme court and i hope justice will be upheld Long live the federal republic Posted by blackscorpion| 01.11.2006 14:09

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