BEVERLY HILLS, January 30, (THEWILL) – The police in Ondo State have quizzed the deputy Speaker of the Ondo House of Assembly, Ayo Arowele, and sealed the Assembly complex following a clash between two factions of lawmakers bickering over the suspension of the leadership of the house.
Thirteen lawmakers loyal to the suspended Speaker, Jumoke Akindele, and her deputy, Fatai Olotu, had converged at the chambers of the house early on Monday for a meeting; but their meeting was disrupted by other members who had announced the suspension of the Speaker and her deputy on Friday.
This led to a free for all engagement which drew the attention of the police command which dispatched a detachment of mobile police officers to the complex which was sealed off by the police officers.
THEWILL gathered that the police were also in search of the mace allegedly taken by Arowole, who was appointed by the dissenting lawmakers with Malachi Coker as acting speaker and Olamide George as acting deputy majority leader.
Arowele was interrogated for several hours and he reportedly promised to return the mace. Also invited for questioning were the Clerk and some senior officials of the Assembly.
The protesting members had accused Akindele and her deputy, Fatai Olotu, of fraudulently withdrawing N15 million from the assembly’s account without parliamentary approval which Akindele has denied.
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