Appeal Court Reinstates Sacked Ondo Deputy Speaker, Orders N100M Compensation

The Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State, has reinstated Hon Iroju Ogundeji as the Deputy Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly. This decision overturned his previous removal by the Assembly, which had suspended him from office. Ogundeji was impeached in December 2022 over alleged gross misconduct.

The appellate court’s ruling on Tuesday was delivered by a panel of three justices: Oyebisi Folayemi Omoleye, Frederick Oziakpono-Oho, and Yusuf Alhaji Bashir. They upheld an earlier decision by Justice Akintan Osadebey, who had ruled in favour of Ogundeji’s reinstatement after his removal by the former Speaker, Hon David Bamidele Oleyeloogun.

Ogundeji represented the Odigbo State Constituency. He was dismissed as Deputy Speaker and suspended from the Assembly for the remainder of his term. The Assembly, dissatisfied with the lower court’s decision, appealed the ruling and argued that procedural issues had stripped the court of its jurisdiction. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed these claims and declared Ogundeji’s removal unconstitutional.

The appellate court also nullified the appointment of Ogundeji’s replacement, declaring it void. The court ordered Ogundeji to be immediately reinstated, with all his benefits paid up to date and his office paraphernalia restored. Furthermore, the court upheld Justice Osadebey’s earlier decision to award Ogundeji N10 million in compensation for his humiliation during his impeachment and suspension.

The ruling also reaffirmed that Ogundeji is entitled to all his dues as a lawmaker and the Deputy Speaker of the Ninth Assembly.

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