The Appeal Court, Ibadan Division has set aside February 8 for the hearing of an appeal filed by former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan.
The hearing date was fixed on Tuesday having challenged his impeachment by the State House of Assembly in 2022.
According to NAN, the appeal’s 1st to 5th respondents are the Oyo State House of Assembly; Clerk of the State Assembly; Chief Justice of Oyo State; State Attorney-General and Kayode Christopher.
Justice Yargata Nimpa, who chaired the appeal panel, granted an application for an extension of time for the brief of argument filed by Mr Samuel Oyadoyin, counsel for the first and second respondents.
The panel also approved the motion of the appellant’s counsel, Mr Kazeem Gbadamosi (SAN) to consider the appellant’s reply brief of November 23, 2023, as properly filed before the court.
Before granting the application and motion, the panel sought the opinion of Mr O. A. Ogunniran, Director of Litigation in the state Ministry of Justice, representing the third and fifth respondents.
Ogunniran said he was not opposed to it.
Nimpa said, “The application for an extension of time to file a brief of argument of the first and second respondents and the appellant’s motion is granted.
“The case is adjourned to February 8 for hearing.”
Justice Bayo Taiwo of Oyo State High Court had upheld Olaniyan’s impeachment by declaring the process constitutional.
However, Olaniyan who was not satisfied with the judgment, asked the Appeal Court to set aside the judgment and nullify his impeachment due to alleged non-compliance with constitutional provisions, depriving him of a fair hearing.
The former deputy governor was impeached over allegations of financial recklessness, misconduct, and insubordination, among others.
