The suspended Lawmaker representing Ose constituency in Ondo State, Mrs. Fola Olasehinde has dragged the State Assembly to court over her continuous suspension.
Olasehinde,a chieftain of the ruling Labour Party [LP] was suspended on June 19 through a letter signed by the Acting Clerk of the House of Assembly with reference ODHA/98/254/Vol.111/i26 for allegedly keeping fetish objects in her former apartment.
However, she denied the allegation, stressing that her suspension was politically motivated.
A committee headed by Hon. Olotu Fatai was constituted by the House to look into the allegation and submit its report within two weeks of the suspension, but nothing has been heard on the issue since then.
Following the alleged relunctancy of the Assembly to respond to several pleadings by groups and individuals to recall her, the lawyer cum politician has approached the court to seek redress.
Olasehinde in her originating summons is praying the court to determine whether the State Assembly was competent to investigate the allegation against her, with regard to section 2 of the code of conduct for lawmakers of the state Assembly.
She has asked the court to determine ”Whether her indefinite suspension as a member of the House by the parliament is not a violation of section 36 of the constitution of the country[1999] as amended and Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ right.
”Whether she is not entitled to be reinstated as a member of the State Assembly and receive her outstanding salaries,committee and constituency allowances since June 19,and the restoration of her official car, driver,water and power supply in her official quarters.
”Whether if these questions are answered in the affirmative, she is not entitled to general and exemplary damages.
Olaseinde urged the court to order her reinstatement to the ”status quo ante bellum” and restore all her outstanding salaries and entitlements since June 19.
According to her,she was not afforded fair hearing before the suspension,stressing that the development violates constitutional provisions and deprived her people from Ose constituency the opportunity for representation at the Assembly.
The suspended parliamentarian through her counsel, Falana and Falana’s Chambers urged the court to grant all the relief she seeks in the interest of justice and in line with the rule of law as enshrined in the Constitution.
No date has been fixed for hearing yet.
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