Lagos — EMBATTLED Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Otunba Femi Pedro, yesterday, tendered his letter of resignation from office, setting off high level drama at the State Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja and the sitting venue of the panel set up by the state Chief Judge to probe the allegations levelled at him by the state Assembly.

Otunba Pedro apparently threw in the towel to pre-empt his impeachment by the Assembly. The legislature is expected to act on the report of the probe panel.

Act One, Scene One of the drama in the resignation saga played itself out at the panel sitting when Pedro's lawyer, Mr. Abiola Philips, walked out, saying since Pedro had resigned, the panel sitting was no longer relevant.

But the chairman of the House Committee on Legal Matters, Mr. AbdulHakeem Abdulatif, cried foul. Pedro, according to him, is not just an ordinary citizen and, therefore, his exit from government "must follow the due process."

More drama was to follow at the Government Secretariat, Alausa when government officials refused to accept the letter of resignation from a team of five lawyers from Chief Gani Fawehinmi's chambers.

Indeed, Governor Bola Tinubu's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Segun Ayobolu, said his boss had not received any such letter. "The governor has not received any resignation letter from Pedro. The last correspondence received from him (Pedro) is a letter to proceed on leave," Ayobolu said.

The lawyers who took the letter to the Governor's Office were led by Mr. Adindu Ugwuzor. They arrived there at 2.21 p.m. but after going from one office to the other without anyone willing to accept the letter, a heated argument ensued between the lawyers and a senior government official who said:

"Why did you come with journalists? If there is any difference in opinion, you will have to talk to somebody else. This woman (pointing at another official) is not under obligation to explain why she cannot collect the letter."

He then directed the lawyers to the office of the Head of Service, saying: "HOS is the number one civil servant."

The lawyers then proceeded to the office of the Secretary to the State Government where they were told that the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Omotilewa Aro-Lambo, resigned last November to participate in active politics and there has been no replacement.

They were asked to see the Chief of Staff to the governor where they were also directed to the Permanent Secretary, Governor's Office, who was said to be away.

Consequently, the lawyers put a call through to their principal, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), who told them to drop two copies of the resignation letter in the office of the governor, whether acknowledged or not, saying: "In law, it is acceptable."

The lawyers then returned to the governor's office, demanding to see the most senior official. Another round of argument soon ensued between the lawyers and security officials who barred journalists from the scene.

One of the governor's aides insisted that journalists be excused before he could have a word with the lawyers. "Please let them go out. You people should go and look for your stories elsewhere. You have a job to do and we also have a job to do," he said.

The letter was then thrown on the ground outside the governor's office.

No commissioner was available to talk to reporters on the issue. However, when the state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Muiz Banire, was cornered on his way to the council chambers for the weekly executive council meeting, he said: "How can he (Pedro) send a letter through an ordinary clerk to the governor? I recall that when he was appointed the deputy governor, he personally collected the letter of appointment.

"Others (Commissioners) that resigned came personally to give their letters to the governor. The onus lies on him to bring his letter personally to the governor.

"The governor upon receipt of the letter has a right to either accept or reject his resignation. If for instance, Pedro is yet to give his account of stewardship in the last four years, the governor can tell him to put that in place before accepting his resignation," he said.

Meanwhile, at the sitting of the panel, Pedro's counsel said all the allegations including disloyalty were false, stating that Pedro in his almost four years service in the state had been upright and loyal to constituted authority.

However, responding, the state House Assembly counsel, who also is the Chairman, House Committee on Legal Matters, Mr. AbdulHakeem Abdulatif, debunked arguments advanced by Mr Philips, stating that the Deputy Governor had no defence to the allegations brought against him.

The panel decided to conclude its investigation and submit its report.

The panel Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Adebola Badmus, in his ruling said: "The Lagos State House of Assembly having adopted its written address and in view of the withdrawal of Pedro's counsel, the panel is of the opinion that the defence does not have any defence.

The panel deems it fit to close its defence and shall proceed to consider the fact as well as independent findings before it and shall be submitted accordingly."

Opening his defence earlier, Pedro's counsel referred to Section 188(7) of the constitution, and queried the time limit given by the panel to the deputy governor to submit his response to allegations filed against him.

But responding, Mr. Abdulatif said Section 188 (7) (a&b) cited by Mr Philips had no bearing on what was going on in court. The lawmaker said the intention of the section was that the probe panel shall submit its report within three months and not necessarily wait the expiration of three months.

"What Section 188 (7) implies is that if this panel gives its report a day after three months such report will be null, void and irrelevant. In the same vein if the panel gives its report within a day or two the panel would have acted within three months. This is a ground design to unnecessarily delay the hearing of this matter," he said.

The lawmaker insisted that an emergency situation like that required emergency measure. He subsequently urged the panel to allow them adopt their written address.

At this juncture, he announced that already his client had tendered his resignation letter. He, therefore, submitted that the composition of the panel was irrelevant. He immediately walked out of the panel without taking any leave.

Pedro resigns as deputy governor

Otunba Pedro in his letter, said: "I hereby tender my resignation as Deputy Governor of Lagos State with effect from today, Tuesday, 8th of May, 2007. I thank you for the opportunity given me to work with you and to serve the people of Lagos State over the past four years and five months."

It was dated May 8, 2007.

Vanguard gathered last night that he would be impeached today.