The Appeal Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State Capital on Friday declared the impeachment of the former governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Ali Olanusi illegal.
Olanusi, who was deputy governor for six years under former governor Olusegun Mimiko, was impeached in April 2015 after he decamped from PDP to APC shortly before the 2015 presidential election.
Following his impeachment, Mr. Olanusi sued Jumoke Akindele, the former speaker of the State House of Assembly who led the impeachment and the Clerk, Mr. Bode Akinyelu at the High court.
Mr. Olatunji Adeniyan, the Chairman of the investigative panel which found him guilty of the impeachable offenses was also sued but the High Court struck the case out.
In an appeal with number CA/AKU/173/16, Mr. Olanusi told the Court that the Adeniyan-led panel breached his fundamental right to fair hearing.
His counsel, Barrister Richamond Natha-Alade, told appellate court that the sitting and submission of report by the panel within one day denied Olanusi his right to fair hearing. He added that the investigative panel did not give Mr. Olanusi adequate time to defend himself against the allegations of misconduct upon which they found him guilty.
Natha-Alade further claimed that the Adeniyan-led panel failed to personally serve his client with the notice of the allegation of misconduct before proceeding into hearing and reaching its verdict.
The former Deputy Governor was said to be away on medical vacation when he was impeached by the PDP lawmakers.