Suspended lawmakers in the Ondo State House of Assembly on Friday asked the state high court to stop the assembly from passing the budget for the 2021 fiscal year.
The lawmakers, who filed the suit are: Irolu Ogundeji, deputy speaker, representing Odigbo 1 Constituency; Tomide Akinribido, representing Ondo West 1 constituency; Favour Tomomewo, representing Ilaje II constituency and Adewale Williams, representing Ondo West II constituency.
Those sued include the governor of the state, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; the speaker of the assembly, Bamidele Oleyelogun; Commissioner of Justice, Charles Titiloye; Commissioner of Budget and Finance, Emmanuel Igbasan; Commissioner of Finance, Adewale Akinterinwa; Accountant General, Olaolu Akindolie; chairman, House Committee on Budget, Sunday Olajide and the entire members of the assembly.
The lawmakers, according to the originating summon, want the court to determine whether it is not unconstitutional and unlawful for the defendants to take steps, and/or contemplate, or evince the intention to pass the 2021 appropriation bill with the exclusion of democratically elected members representing Odigbo 1, Ondo West 1, Ondo West 2 and Ilaje 2 Constituencies in defiance of their statutory responsibility as prescribed under the provisions of constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Rules and standing Orders of the Ondo State House of Assembly.
The suspended lawmakers were reinstated by Justice Ademola Bola of the State High Court in November but the Speaker, Oloyelogun refused to obey the court order by restraining the lawmakers from participating in their legal businesses .
Ondo Assembly Crisis: Suspended lawmakers heads to court over 2021 budget.
