BREAKING: Ondo State Speaker, Bamidele Oloyelogun Resigns | READ WHY

BREAKING: Ondo State Speaker, Bamidele Oloyelogun Resigns | READ WHY

Right Honourable Bamidele Oloyelogun, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, has resigned from his position as the head of the state legislative arm.

Oloyelogun’s resignation was contained in a letter dated, 01-06-2023, signed and addressed to the Clerk of the Assembly.

The letter titled, ‘Resignation as Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly” read;

“Please permit me to inform you that I, Rt. Hon. Oleyelogun Bamidele David, ceases to function as Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly.

This follows my decision to resign from the position with effect from today (Thursday).

“As you are aware, this Honourable House has always discharged its constitutional obligations as one indivisible family. That was the spirit that propped me to the exalted position as Speaker. It is in light of that same spirit that I resign from the position.

“May I use this medium to express my appreciation to all my colleagues who have been wonderful partners in progress. I must say I enjoyed their enviable and uncommon support for the period held sway as Speaker, Ondo State House of Assembly. I will extend same level of support and loyalty to whoever succeeds me as Speaker of this Honourable House.

“Thanks, and please accept the assurances of my highest regards.”

The speaker’s resignation comes few days to the expiration of the current Assembly.

Recall that on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, the Benin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Oleyelogun David Bamidele and two others; Felemu Olusegun Gudubankole, Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Oyadeji Oludeji, Secretary to the House Committee on Tertiary Institutions, before Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye of the Ondo State High Court for fraud.

They were arraigned on a two count charge bordering on conspiracy and using their office to confer corrupt or unfair advantage on themselves.

Oleyelogun, Gudubankole and Kayode are alleged to have conspired amongst themselves to engage in corrupt practices by receiving and retaining the sum of N2,440,000.00 which was meant for a seminar which they never attended.

One of the counts reads:

“that you, Hon. Felemu Gudubankole whilst being the Chairman, House Committee on Tertiary Institution, Ondo State House of Assembly, Hon.Oleyelogun David Bamidele whilst being a member of Ondo State House of Assembly and Oyadeji Oludeji being the Secretary to the House Committee on Tertiary Institutions, Ondo State House of Assembly on or about the 18th June 2020 in Akure, Ondo State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court did use your office to confer corrupt or unfair advantage to yourselves to wit: by receiving and retaining the sum of N2,440,000 (Two million, Four Hundred and Forty Thousand Naira) from the Ondo State Government meant to be used to attend a two-day seminar organised by National Productivity Centre on improving Productivity in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria which you did not attend”.

They pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to them, prompting the prosecution counsel , K.U.Udus to ask the court for a trial date and remand the defendants. However, counsel to the defendants, F.E. Emodamore urged the court to discountenance EFCC’s prayer and allow the defendants to continue on their administrative bail, claiming that one of the defendants had health challenge that requires medical attention.

Justice Adebusoye ruled that the defendants should continue on their administrative bail and adjourned the matter till May 18, 2023 for trial.