The Chief Justice of Oyo State, Munta Abimbola on Thursday constituted a seven-man panel to investigate the allegations levelled against the deputy governor of the state, Rauf Olaniyan, by the House of Assembly.
House of Assembly has been pushing to impeach Olaniyan, a move that was heightened after the deputy governor defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Governor, Seyi Makinde and the majority of the state lawmakers are in the PDP.
Olaniyan’s camp had alleged that Makinde sidelined and relegated him to the background of his government before his defection.
Nevertheless, the panel was formed pursuant to the resolution of the House of Assembly, and as requested by its Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin.
Ogundoyin made the request in a letter dated July 6, 2022.
The Speaker in the letter requested the constitution of the panel by virtue of the power conferred on the State Chief Judge by section 188 (5) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The members of the panel comprise; Chief Kayode Christopher (Chairman), Adebisi Soyombo, Chief Lawal Adekunle Dauda, Princess Olanike Olusegun, Rev Fr. Patrick Ademola, Chief Mrs Wuraola Adepoju (JP), and Alh. Tirimisiyu Akewusola Badmus.
Justice Abimbola encouraged the panel members to be fair in their investigation of the allegations against the deputy governor.
Sahara Reporters earlier reported that the State High Court sitting in Ibadan stopped state lawmakers from going ahead with the impeachment of Olaniyan.
The court presided over by Justice Oladiran Akintola gave the order when the case filed by the deputy governor came up for hearing.
This was to allow the Assembly to react to the issues raised by the deputy governor.