OGUN EX LG CHAIR HON ADEDAYO CELEBRATES LEGAL WIN, SLAMS POLITICAL PRESSURE BEHIND IMPEACHMENT
Written by Oluwaseyi Amosun on December 11, 2025
Photo File: Hon. Wale Adedayo
A former Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Hon. Wale Adedayo, has described the recent court judgment that overturned his impeachment as a landmark decision that strengthens Nigeria’s democracy.
He insisted that the ruling exposed what he called a clear failure to follow due process in his removal from office.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu, Adedayo said the judgment marked an important moment for accountability, law, and democratic resilience in Ogun State. He explained that although he had concerns before the judgment, he remained hopeful because this was not the first time he had been confronted with political intimidation and legal battles.
Adedayo said his greatest fear was the possibility of the case taking what he described as an unexpected negative turn. According to him, “I had concerns about the case going south. But I remained hopeful because this was not my first experience.” He added that the ruling was a reminder that the judiciary still has individuals with courage and conviction. “We still have judges with courage. Judges who will make pronouncements others can quote later,” he said.
The Ogun State High Court 1, presided over by Justice Catherine Ogunsanya, delivered the judgment on Wednesday. The court nullified the impeachment carried out by seven councillors in September 2023, declaring their action illegal, unconstitutional, and contrary to the Ogun State Local Government Law of 2006. The judge ordered the Ijebu East Local Government to pay Adedayo thirty million naira in damages and to release all outstanding entitlements owed to him as a duly elected chairman. Although his tenure had already expired, the court held that he was entitled to restoration symbolically and financially because the tenure was fixed.
Justice Ogunsanya held that the legislative council failed to comply with essential statutory requirements before removing the chairman. She emphasised that the councillors neither followed due process nor adhered to laid down procedures. “The impeachment carried out by the seven councillors lacked legal backing and violates due process. The claimant is entitled to restoration and compensation,” the judge ruled.
Adedayo said this affirmation by the court would have wide implications for governance in Ogun State and, by extension, the country. He noted that the judgment addressed every issue raised and backed each point with relevant laws. “The ruling gives valuable insight for people in Ogun State and across Nigeria. Every issue was addressed with the law,” he said.
Beyond the damages awarded, the court also ordered that his salaries, allowances, and entitlements from the period he was removed until the end of his constitutional tenure be returned. The former chairman said this was significant because an illegally removed local government chairman is still entitled to full benefits until the tenure ends.
He noted, however, that the thirty million naira compensation was far lower than the one hundred million naira his lawyers requested. But he said what mattered more to him was that the court corrected the injustice and restored his political standing. “Once you are impeached, people use it against you. This judgment removes that cloud. It clears the road ahead of 2027,” he said.
Speaking on the political implications of his reinstatement, Adedayo said the judgment reopens the door to any political ambition he may wish to pursue. According to him, “I can fight for any office in my land that our people might want to say go and represent us. For me, that is a major one in terms of 2027.”
Adedayo explained extensively why his impeachment collapsed legally. He said that under the Ogun State Local Government Law of 2006, several procedures are mandatory before a chairman can be impeached. These include the requirement that the legislative clerk must write to the governor, and an external investigative committee must be set up to review allegations brought forward by councillors. He added that the governor must finally sign off to validate such proceedings. “If you want the impeachment to stand, there must be proof that all those processes listed in the law have been followed,” he said.
He insisted that none of those constitutional steps was followed in his case. Instead, he said political pressure influenced the entire process. According to him, the councillors acted under directives from powerful interests in Abeokuta. “I told them they were acting a script written by those in Abeokuta. Mr Governor is offended that we opened up about how federal allocation belonging to Ijebu East was being spent,” he said.
Adedayo maintained that his legal fight was driven by principle, not revenge. He said the decision to approach the court was the most responsible option available after senior colleagues suggested protests. He rejected any suggestion of street action because of the volatile atmosphere following the EndSARS crisis. “Going to court was the only option available at that time. If we had protested, there is no way it would not engulf Oyo and Lagos. And if the South West was involved, it would affect the entire country,” he said.
He added that some of the councillors who impeached him were manipulated and pressured for months. He alleged that they were kept in hotels in Abeokuta to ensure they remained under political control. “For months, they lived in hotels in Abeokuta. Everyone has their background, and everyone will answer for their actions one day,” he said.
The former chairman also praised the legal team from CitiPoint Chambers, led by Barrister Tesleem Adewuyi, who he said worked tirelessly without collecting any money. “They did not collect a dime from me. They used their own money. Many of them have histories of fighting for democracy even before 1999,” he said.
Speaking further, he dismissed allegations that he mismanaged funds or diverted local government allocations. He said many of the projects credited to the state government during the administration of former Governor Gbenga Daniel were actually executed by local governments, including Ijebu East, because allocations were released promptly. He said his record remains clean and that his interest in future political roles, including a senatorial seat, would be based on visible achievements. “It is your project that will sell you,” he said.
Adedayo also clarified the controversial letter that triggered the political crisis. He said the letter circulated in the media was not written by him but by a senior colleague. “I had to come out because my name was on it, and I cannot be hiding,” he said.
Looking ahead, the former chairman said he holds no grudges and has no interest in embarrassing the state government. He said the judgment should serve as a warning to public office holders to respect the law. According to him, “Let bygones be bygones. This judgment will make people in public office more cautious. If you exceed your order, you will strengthen democracy. This issue will strengthen democracy.”
Adedayo, a former commissioner and grassroots politician, said he remains committed to public service and to advocating for stronger democratic systems at the local government level. “This victory is not just mine. It is for everyone who believes in justice,” he said.
Eagle Fm
Gbenga Onabamiro On December 12, 2025 at 3:10 am
The ruling may have looked balanced on the surface, but anyone following the matter closely can see that the judge was merely tactical and diplomatic. The reinstatement and award of damages appear to acknowledge that an injustice occurred, yet the dismissal of the case against the governor raises more questions than answers.
To the observing public, it is glaring what actually played out — and the subtle, but unmistakable, influence of the state government throughout the crisis. This episode once again forces a fundamental question to the forefront:
Is the local government system in Nigeria truly free from the grip of state governments?
The pattern is familiar: whenever a local government chairman falls out of favour with state authorities, administrative and legal mechanisms suddenly tilt, suspension becomes easy, and “disciplinary measures” emerge conveniently. Even when the courts intervene, the outcomes often reflect a delicate balancing act rather than a bold assertion of constitutional autonomy.
Until genuine fiscal and political independence is guaranteed — not just on paper but in practice — local governments will remain the weakest link in Nigeria’s federal structure, perpetually vulnerable to state-level control disguised as oversight.