Three lawmakers in Ondo Assembly suspended for alleged gross misconduct have been awarded N15 million as damages by an Akure High Court.
The three lawmakers are deputy speaker, Ogundeji Iroju; the only woman in the House, Favour Tomomowo, and Wale Williams.
They were among the eight lawmakers that refused to sign the impeachment notice against the Ondo Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi.
Besides awarding N5 million each to the lawmakers, the court also reversed the suspension slammed on them.
The lawmakers had through their lawyer, Banjo Ayelakin, sought the protection of the court against their unlawful suspension from the House.
Ademola Bola, the presiding judge, on Friday, August 28, 2020, described the suspension as illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
Bola ruled that the House of Assembly as well as other members have no power to suspend any member of the Assembly.
The Judge said the suspension violated sections 90, 91, 106, and 117 of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria and ordered the lawmakers reinstated into their positions with immediate effect.
Bola ordered that the sum of N5million should be paid to each of the lawmakers as damages.
Source: The Nation
