Police Seal Off Ondo State House Of Assembly

Police sealed off the Ondo State House of Assembly on Monday as lawmakers clashed over the controversial impeachment of its former speaker, Jumoke Akindele.

Mrs. Akindele was impeached last week over her involvement in a N15m fraud. The assembly’s paymaster, Makanjuola Adesina, had been caught with N15m in cash at the assembly complex and said he was holding the money for the speaker.

Fourteen members of the House subsequently voted to impeach the speaker, along with Deputy Speaker Fatai Olotu and Majority Leader Ifedayo Akinsoyinu, on Friday.

Ondo State Police spokesman Femi Joseph said that pro-Akindele lawmakers clashed with those who voted for her impeachment, forcing the police to close down the assembly complex in order to prevent a breakdown of law and order.

“When we got there this morning, everybody was allowed to go inside the complex in preparation for the day’s business. Lo and behold, they started fighting one another, and the matter was degenerating into a free-for-all. All efforts by the commissioner of police to settle the issue through dialogue were not successful,” Mr. Joseph explained.

“It became imperative for us to close down the assembly,” he said.