At Ondo State House of Assembly said the impeached deputy speaker, Iroju Ogundeji, is no longer a member of the house.
The house said this despite a ruling by the state high court that ordered the reinstatement of Mr. Ogundeji.
The lawmaker said Mr. Ogundeji was expelled from the House last year in plenary and cannot be reinstated as deputy speaker, as ordered by the court.
The assembly on Thursday filed an appeal against the verdict ordering the reinstatement of Mr. Ogundeji, who was indicted in 2020 on charges of wrongdoing.
He found himself in trouble with his colleagues after he led some of them to oppose the impeachment of the deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi.
Mr. Ogundeji went to court to seek compensation and the court on Wednesday declared that he was illegally removed because he was not given the opportunity to defend himself.
He was expelled along with several other members who also challenged the decision in court.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Olugbenga Omole, in a statement on Friday, said the lower court ruling was an interference in the affairs of the House.
“Consequently, we want to reiterate that Iroju Ogundeji has been legally impeached by members in line with the rules and procedures and replaced by Rt Hon Samuel Aderoboye,” he said.
“We have taken the necessary steps to address the situation by challenging the judgment of the High Court in the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, Akure Division to set aside the judgment, filing proceedings for an order to order the execution of the judgment pending trial and determination. An appeal was filed against the decision of the High Court, and the order of the injunction pending the appeal restraining anyone from giving effect to the judgment pending the determination of the appeal before the Court of Appeal.
“You must inform the public that as of yesterday January 11, 2023 when the decision was taken, Iroju Ogundeji is no longer a member of the Ondo State House of Assembly following the resolution of the members on March 31, 2022 which declared him vacant seat as a member of parliament representing Odigbo Constituency 1 in Assembly.
“It should be noted that Iroju Ogundeji is now challenging the decision in court.
“We want to ask Iroju Ogundeji and his traveling companions to complete the judicial process to the highest point of judgment rather than media propaganda.”
The court has not set a date to hear the proceedings filed by the assembly.
Those expelled with Mr. Ogundeji were Sukses Torhukerhijo, representing Ese-Odo and Favor Towomewo, representing Ilaje II.
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