Ogun former Deputy Speaker arraigned over attempt to carry out court order

The former Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon Dare Kadiri, has been arraigned after he made efforts to enforce a court judgment nullifying his suspension by the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo.

Recall that Oluomo, in September 2022, announced at plenary Kadiri’s suspension, saying it was “in line with the provisions of Sections 14 and 15 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017.”

To seek redress, Kadiri went to court and the court nullified his suspension, on the ground that it was an abuse of power by the Speaker.

In his ruling, Justice O. A. Onafowokan of High Court 3, Abeokuta, directed that all the emoluments due to the Ijebu North II Lawmaker be paid without delay.

However, the Oluomo-led Ogun Assembly went to court again to seek a stay of execution.

But the court dismissed the stay of execution application, awarding a fine of N100,000 against the applicant.

On Tuesday, Kadiri returned to the House of Assembly complex in Oke-Mosan, demanding that he be allowed to resume office following the court rulings.

The lawmaker created drama as he blocked the main entrance with his car, thereby preventing others to resume for business of the day.

Report has it that he was subsequently arrested and detained at the Ogun State police headquarters, where he spent the night.

On Wednesday, he was driven to the Magistrate’s Court in Isabo, Abeokuta and was arraigned for what the police called threat to lives and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace.

The prosecutor, Lawrence Olu-Balogun told the court that Kadiri had been on suspension since March, 2022, “but claimed that the court had given him judgement, and asked him to resume back to his office.”

The prosecutor quoted the defendant as claiming that he was at the assembly complex to resume office, “in accordance with the date given in the judgement by the Ogun State High court.”

He confirmed that when the defendant arrived at the assembly complex, security operatives denied him entrance.

The prosecutor maintained that the offences committed contravene sections 86(1) and 249(D) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun 2006.

However, the Chief Magistrate, Mrs M. O. Osinbajo, admitted the defendant to bail by self recognition, adjourning the case until June 1 for trial.