The Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaj Ali Olanusi, who was impeached and removed on Monday by the State House of Assembly, has been replaced by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo from Akoko North East Local Government.
He was confirmed by the House as the new deputy governor.
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The ousting of Olanusi was sequel to the submission of the report of the seven-man investigative panel set up by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olasehinde Kumuyi.
At the plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Jumoke Akindele, the motion for the impeachment of the deputy governor was moved by the Majority Leader, Hon. Ifedayo Akinsoyinu of Ondo West II and seconded by Hon. Oyebo Aladetan of Ilaje I Constituency.
Akinsoyinu said he based his motion to remove the deputy governor on the conclusion of the report of the panel that investigated allegations of gross misconduct levelled against the deputy governor by the House.
The Panel's report presented by Akinsoyinu reads: " Having found that all the seven allegations established against Alhaji Ali Olanusi, the Deputy Governor of Ondo State and placing reliance on the meaning of gross misconduct as defined in Section 188 (11) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, we hereby find that the allegation of gross misconduct has been proved against Alhaji Olanusi the holder of office of the Deputy Governor of Ondo State Nigeria".
After the presentation of the majority leader and the secondment of the motion, the Speaker asked lawmakers present to rise up, raise their hands to express their support for the action of the Assembly.
The 22 members thereafter announced their support through voice vote after counting the number present.
In her remark, the Speaker of the House, Jumoke Akindele, directed the sacked deputy governor to hand over all the government property in his possession to the Permanent Secretary in the Deputy Governor's Office.
She directed the Permanent Secretary to use all lawful means to retrieve those property should the removed deputy governor fail to hand them over immediately.
The process for the impeachment of the former deputy governor started barely a week ago with the service of the impeachment notice on Olanusi citing allegations of gross misconduct.
The House then directed the Chief Judge, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi, the following day to set up an investigative panel on the allegations against Olanusi.
The panel, which had Olatunji Adeniyan as the chairman and inaugurated by the Chief Judge concluded its assignment on Friday, April 24.
The report of the committee was submitted to the House on Monday after which the Assembly sat for plenary where the Deputy Governor was finally removed.
The approval of the new deputy governor was sequel to the letter written to the House by the Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, asking the House to screen the nominee.
The Speaker after the Clerk read the letter of the governor, directed the Deputy Speaker, Hon Dare Emiola to supervise the House Committee on Selection to screen the nominee.
In its report presented to the House the Deputy Speaker said the. Selection Committee found Oluboyo competent and worthy of the new selection as the Deputy Governor.
The entire lawmakers that attended the plenary thereafter approved the appointment of Oluboyo as the new deputy governor of Ondo State.
After his confirmation, Oluboyo moved to the Cocoa Conference Hall in the Governor's office where he was sworn in by Mimiko.
At the swearing in, Mimiko said this is the first time a new deputy governor would be sworn in after an impeachment of Number Two Citizen of the state.
He said the executive respect and support the action of the lawmakers saying the synergy among the three arms of the government would be sustained.
While congratulating the new deputy governor, Mimiko noted that there was joy in the land immediately the name of Oluboyo was mentioned.
In his remark, the Deputy Governor who pleged his allegiance and 100 per cent loyalty, said the fact that one Akoko man disappointed the governor should not be seen that all Akoko people are bad.
Oluboyo promised to be efficient while discharging his duties saying he would correct the inefficiencies of the former deputy governor.
