Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have constituted a four-man panel to audit the legislature’s accounts amid an ongoing crisis over alleged financial mismanagement involving the Speaker, Olamide Oladiji.
The lawmakers reached the decision on Wednesday during a parliamentary meeting held at the Assembly complex in Akure, the state capital.
The development comes weeks after 21 of the 26 lawmakers signed a notice seeking Oladiji’s removal over allegations surrounding the disbursement of N44 million released by the Ondo State Oil-Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC).
The lawmakers had accused the Speaker of failing to carry members along in the disbursement of the funds, which were reportedly released for the reordering of the commission’s 2026 budget.
The legislators had also vowed not to resume plenary until Oladiji resigned or was impeached.
The parliamentary meeting was presided over by the Majority Leader, Olatunji Oshati, in the absence of Oladiji and his deputy, Ololade Gbegudu.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Olatunji Ifabiyi, said the decision to audit the Assembly’s accounts was aimed at promoting transparency and accountability.
He declined to disclose the identities of members of the four-man panel.
Ifabiyi said the lawmakers were compelled to reconvene after several days without plenary or committee activities, stressing that the Assembly could not abandon its constitutional responsibilities.
He said lawmakers also deliberated on constituency projects, community development and the flooding affecting several riverine communities across the state.
According to him, committee chairmen had been directed to immediately resume their oversight activities, while another parliamentary meeting would be held within two weeks.
Impeachment process still pending
Ifabiyi said the impeachment process against Oladiji had not been abandoned but was temporarily put on hold pending intervention by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress.
“We are still waiting for the leadership of our party. We cannot proceed further until the party gives us the go-ahead. So the impeachment process is still pending, and we remain on course,” he said.
He also dismissed claims that lawmakers had accepted inducements to drop the impeachment proceedings, insisting that no member had compromised.
He explained that although the executive was not expected to interfere in legislative affairs, the APC leadership could intervene to resolve the dispute because the lawmakers belonged to the same political party.
“We are all members of the same political family. Our party will not sacrifice the interest of 26 lawmakers for one individual. We believe the leadership will ensure justice and fairness for everyone,” Ifabiyi said.
