Ondo State House of Assembly, yesterday, served impeachment notice on the state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, for alleged gross misconducts in office.

Specifically, the nine allegations levelled against the deputy governor included financial misappropriation, absenteeism from official duties and causing political disaffection in the cabinet of the state government.

Olanusi, who was said to be out of the country currently for medical check up, had defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last month.

Newswatch Times learnt that the impeachment notice served on him was not unconnected with his defection to the opposition party.

The impeachment notice was signed at the plenary session of the Assembly yesterday by 20 out of 26 lawmakers of the House who were present at the session.

The Majority Leader of the House, Hon Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, representing Ondo West Constituency 2, moved the motion and was seconded by Hon Yinka Banso, who represents Akoko North-West Constituency 1.

Presided over by the Speaker, Hon Jumoke Akindele, the assembly said its action against the deputy governor was in line with the Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

However, in a swift reaction, the state’s APC said the service of impeachment notice on the deputy governor was illegal as Olanusi was not in the country to receive the notice and, therefore, such a notice could not be served in absentia.

In a statement issued by the state’s APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Abayomi Adesanya, the party stated that “we are aware of the purported impeachment notice served on the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ali Olanusi, by the Ondo State House of Assembly. The deputy governor had written to the Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, on Friday, 17th of April, 2015, with Ref. No. OBG/A/136/67, that he will be going on routine medical check-up outside the country.

“The deputy governor had since travelled out of the country on Saturday, 18th of April, 2015. So, it is laughable for the rubber-stamp House of Assembly to have claimed it has served the deputy governor an impeachment notice; knowing full well that the law does not permit to serve impeachment notice in absentia. The notice is nullity,” he said.

*Adapted from Newswatch Times. Photo shows Olanusi