The Chief Judge of Ondo State, Justice Williams Akintoroye, has withdrawn from the suit challenging the removal of a former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Iroju Ogundeji.

Ogundeji, who was removed by the Assembly on the allegation of gross misconduct, challenged his removal in Akintoroye’s court before he became the chief judge of the state.

After Akintoroye was sworn in as the CJ, the lawmaker asked for the case to be transferred to another court, saying he had no hope of getting justice in the new CJ’s court.

He also said in a petition to the CJ that he was not comfortable with the alleged fraternity between the defendants and Akintoroye.The petition read in part, “Your lordship expressly praised the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly and his estranged deputy during your confirmation on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, the position that is in contention before your lordship.

“Your lordship expressly mentioned that the House was stable in recent times because of the harmony between the Speaker and the disputed Deputy Speaker. The House that is divided against itself will never hold.”

When the case came up for hearing on Monday, Justice Akintoroye transferred it to the registry to be assigned to another court for adjudication, saying he would not want the court to be rubbished because of a political case before him.

The judge also stated that all allegations against him in the past had been dismissed, because he did not have any skeleton in his cupboard.

“I have my name to protect. I have laboured day and night to protect the only legacy I have, which is my name. I have not desecrated this seat. I have worked in virtually all judicial divisions in Ondo State without blemish. I practised for 18 years before I was appointed a judge,” he said.