By Precious Oluwole

The move by the Ondo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa to stop his impeachment process initiated by the State House of Assembly yesterday suffered a setback as an Akure High Court struck out the suit.

The suit was instituted by the Deputy Governor challenging his impeachment by the state House of Assembly.

In the ruling delivered by Justice O. Akintan-Osadebay, the court declined jurisdiction to avoid conflicting verdict with an Abuja Federal High Court.

The judge ruled that it was a gross abuse of court process to engage in “forum shopping” by instituting same case in Akure and Abuja High Court.

Aiyedatiwa had approached the court in a suit AK/348/2023 filed on September 25, 2023, to stop the House of Assembly from impeaching him.

He also filed another at the Abuja Federal High Court where he secured an interim injunction restraining the Assembly from impeaching him over alleged gross misconduct.

The interim injunction was granted by Justice Emeka Nwite on September 26.

Legal experts say interim injunctions typically have a 14-day lifespan and are usually filed to restrain respondents from taking steps pending the hearing and determination of an application for an interlocutory injunction.

At the hearing of the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1294/2023 on Monday, the Judge didn’t renew the interim injunction granted on September 26.

Counsel to the House of Assembly, Femi Emodamori confirmed that the Interim Injunction expired on October 10.

He noted that the Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Olusegun Odusola can now go ahead and set up the panel as directed by the House of Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa has filed an appeal against the ruling of the Akure High Court.