An Ondo State High Court has awarded N200,000 cost against Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, over absence of his counsel in court.
Aiyedatiwa had filed a motion asking the court to restrain the state Chief Judge and the House of Assembly from proceeding with his impeachment, pending the hearing and determination of the appeal he filed against the judgment delivered by the court on October 10, 2023 dismissing his case.
His counsel was not represented in court to argue the motion.
Hon. Justice O. Akintan-Osadebay, who awarded the cost, directed Aiyedatiwa to pay N50,000 cost each to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the House of Assembly, the Clerk to the House and the state Chief Judge, who were sued as the 3rd to 6th respondents in the motion.
Counsel for the House of Assembly, Femi Emodamori, represented by A. S. Subair, informed the court that the motion for injunction was adjourned till today (yesterday) based on the agreement of both parties, but wondered why the counsel for Aiyedatiwa was absent and did not deem it fit to write the court over his absence.
Justice Osadebey adjourned the hearing of the motion till November 7, 2023 and awarded N200,000 cost against Aiyedatiwa for wasting the time of the court and the other parties.
