Appoint Medical Panel To Assess Akeredolu’s Health – Court Orders Ondo Assembly, Speaker

As controversies continue to trail the health of the Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, a High Court, sitting in Akure, yesterday, granted an Order of Mandamus to compel the House of Assembly and the Speaker to constitute a medical panel to assess the Governor’s health status.

Applicants in the suit are; Olufemi Lawson, Isijola Kike, Ologun Ayodeji and Arogbo Olaniyi.

They underscore the paramount importance of upholding public trust and ensuring transparency by elected officials.

An exparte motion was filed before the court on October 25, 2023, by the applicants.

The motion was brought pursuant to section 6(6b) of the 1999 constitution as amended as well as order 22 rule 1 of the Ondo State High Court rules.

The applicants prayed for an order of mandamus against the first and second respondents to compel them to carry out statutory and constitutional duties on the third respondent as stipulated under section 189(4) of the 1999 constitution.

The grounds were predicated on 11 grounds and in line with the rules of court, the applicant’s statement of claim and a 30-paragraph affidavit.

The trial judge, Justice A. I Kolawole after listening to the submission of the legal team of the applicant led by Dotun Ajulo, Fadeshola Ojamomi, A.V Ajayi and K.A Mogbojuri, ruled that the hurdles and lacuna associated with Public Interest litigation have since been set aside in the case of Adetona vs the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Inakoju v Adeleke.

The Court, therefore, granted leave for mandamus to compel first and second respondent to carry out their constitutional duties pursuant to section 189(4) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

The matter was thereafter adjourned to January 11, 2024.