For embattled former governor of Lagos and Osun states, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, removal from office as National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may signpost worse days ahead.
The retired army brigadier may even end up in jail if the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which sacked him yesterday, is fully implemented.
Justice Abdul Kafarati had in his ruling granted all the prayers of the litigant, the Ogun State chapter of PDP. Among the prayers was Oyinlola’s removal as PDP National Secretary as well as his committal to prison for “criminal conduct” and “flagrant disobedience to two court orders.”
The travails of Oyinlola, a former military governor of Lagos State and immediate past governor of Osun State, began when Ogun State PDP Chairman, Adebayo Dayo, went to court to challenge his nomination for the post of PDP National Secretary by the South-West caucus of the party. Dayo argued that two court judgments had nullified the PDP South-West zonal congress through which Oyinlola was nominated.
Delivering judgment on the case yesterday, Justice Kafarati held that Oyinlola was not worthy to be recognised as PDP National Secretary and should vacate the office immediately as his nomination contradicted the two court judgments that quashed the congress.
His words: “The conduct of the defendants constitutes flagrant disobedience to a subsisting court order and also constitutes a criminal contempt of court and any step taken thereafter by the PDP secretary is a null and void.”
Dismissing the preliminary objection brought by the defendants, Justice Kafarati said: “All the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs are hereby granted.”
Among the reliefs is an order of committal to prison of Oyinlola, who turns 62 on Feb. 3 and was governor of Osun from May 2003 to November 26, 2010 when he was sacked by the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State, which ruled that Oyinlola should immediately vacate the office for the rightful winner of the 2007 governorship election – Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of the Action Congress.
Oyinlola (see photo) has however described yesterday’s judgment as “a miscarriage of justice,” vowing to appeal it.
NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s leading online newspaper. Published by Africa’s international award-winning journalist, Mr. Isaac Umunna, NEWS EXPRESS is Nigeria’s first truly professional online daily newspaper. It is published from Lagos, Nigeria’s economic and media hub, and has a provision for occasional special print editions. Thanks to our vast network of sources and dedicated team of professional journalists and contributors spread across Nigeria and overseas, NEWS EXPRESS has become synonymous with newsbreaks and exclusive stories from around the world.