In a recent development at the Ondo State High Court in Akure, the suit filed by the Ondo State Government and Governor Rotimi Akeredolu regarding the compilation of the record of appeal was struck out.

The claimants in the case had initiated legal action against four registrars of the High Court, the Deputy Governor of the state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the House of Assembly, the Speaker of the House, and the Chief Judge of Ondo State.

They argued that the procedure for settling and compiling the record of appeal for the deputy governor’s appeal would infringe upon their rights.

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During the court hearing on Monday, the claimants, represented by their counsel, requested to withdraw the suit, citing developments that had overtaken the case.

However, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), the counsel for the deputy governor, opposed the oral withdrawal application, emphasizing that the issues had already been joined through the filing of a defense to the suit and a counter-claim.

Justice D.I. Kolawole, in his ruling, affirmed that the court’s rules permitted the claimants to withdraw the suit, and subsequently, it was struck out.

Aiyedatiwa’s counsel urged the court to direct all parties to maintain the status quo to preserve the subject matter of the ongoing suit.

This request faced opposition from counsel representing the House of Assembly, Mr. Femi Emodamori.

The court directed all parties to continue maintaining peace and adjourned the case to November 22, 2023, for hearing of applications.

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The Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Mr. Olamide Oladiji, recently commented on the matter, expressing the view that the failure of the state deputy governor, Ayedatiwa, to withdraw court cases indicated a lack of readiness for genuine reconciliation.

Oladiji emphasized the importance of Aiyedatiwa withdrawing the cases in court to facilitate the reconciliation process.

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According to him, the deputy governor’s failure to take this step demonstrated his appeal of some of the lower court’s rulings, which has complicated the reconciliation efforts.