Fayose’s Impeachment: CJ Directed to Constitute Panel
Obas mediate to end feud APC legislators withdraw suit against gov
The efforts by 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers to impeach Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose was stepped up a notch when the legislators directed the state’s Chief Judge, Mr. Justice Ayodeji Daramola, to set up a seven-man panel to investigate allegations raised in the impeachment notice to the governor.
A statement signed by Mr. Wole Olujobi, the Special Adviser, Media, to the Speaker, Hon. Adewale Omirin, said the lawmakers took the decision at a special sitting held at Mary Hills Boys High School, Ado-Ekiti, yesterday.
The seven-man penal is to be constituted by the Chief Judge within seven days of receipt of the letter to investigate Fayose and Deputy Governor, Dr. Oluosla Kolapo , over allegations of gross misconduct raised in their impeachment notice.
The offences included invasion of the House of Assembly with thugs and miscreants; instigating the unconstitutional takeover of the House by seven legislators to sit in contravention of section 96(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; prevention of the 19 APC legislative members from performing legislative duties with the use of security agents and armed thugs; and sponsoring an unlawful impeachment process in the house.
Other allegations listed in the notice are: spending Ekiti State funds without the requisite constitutional approval in contravention of the constitution; running the government of Ekiti State without legally constituted Executive Council in contravention of Section 192(2) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; operating an illegal 2014 budget, and sponsoring and instigating illegal sitting of the House in contravention of Section 96(1) of the Constitution.
The lawmakers, according to Olujobi, said they relied on Section 101 of the 1999 Constitution as amended which empowers the assembly to regulate their sittings, including sitting in a public building within the state capital if conditions exist in the hallowed chamber that endanger members’ lives.
During the sitting, the Majority Leader, Churchill Adedipe, representing Irepodun / Ifelodun Constituency 1, explained that the sitting ought to have taken place in the chamber on April 7, 2015 but members were waylaid by thugs who mounted road blocks and threatened their lives with dangerous weapons, thereby making them to abandon going to the assembly.
Relying on Section 188 of the constitution, Adedipe moved the motion empowering the chief judge to set up the panel, which was seconded by the Deputy Speaker, Adetunji Orisalade, representing Ido/Osi Constituency II.
After debating the issue, the lawmakers, in a unanimous vote, supported the motion directing the chief judge to set up the panel, after which the
House was said to have adjourned to the next legislative day, which was not clearly stated.
But when contacted, the Chief Registrar of Ekiti State judiciary, Mr. Obafemi Fasanmi, said he had not received any letter from the lawmakers.
“I am not aware of that except you confirm from the chief judge himself. I was in the office today, no such letter was received,” he stated.
Also debunking the claim by APC lawmakers that they sat and deliberated on the impeachment, Fayose’s spokesman, Lere Olayinka, said: “No sitting of Ekiti Assembly was held today.
“The state House of Assembly is on recess. No sitting of the House is taking place in the House of Assembly. The House is presently on recess. I want the people to disregard information being circulated by the APC that their lawmakers are sitting somewhere in Ado Ekiti.
“Of course, members of the House of Assembly can gather anywhere in the world to have social or political meetings. Parliamentary business is done in the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly.
“Besides, Dr. Adewale Omirin, who claims to be the speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly was impeached on November 20, 2014 and he is in court, challenging his impeachment.”
When journalists visited the school to confirm whether the sitting was held, a member of staff of the school said: “Nobody was seen within the premises, except an examination supervisor”.
However, monarchs in the state under the auspices of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers have ordered Fayose and members of the APC caucus in the assembly to sheathe their swords for peace to be restored in the state.
A communique read by the council’s chairman and the Onitaji of Itaji Ekiti, Oba Adamo Babalola, said the face-off between the executive and the legislative arm had been on-going since Fayose was sworn in on October 16, 2014.
“The position stalled all other efforts to find an amicable settlement of the matter. The recent development in our dear state is a source of concern and embarrassment to all well-meaning people of Ekiti State.
“It is sad that the unfortunate incident which resulted in the death of one Mr. Modupe Olaya of Efon Alaaye could have been avoided.
“Council appreciates the representations from various individuals, groups and associations such as the Ekiti State Council of Elders, the labour unions, both serving and retired civil servants, religious leaders, business and professional bodies for their concerns and suggestions.
“Council hereby appeals to all political gladiators to sheathe their swords, eschew violence and give peace a chance, as we believe that violence cannot solve the problems at hand,” the council stated.
Meanwhile, the 19 APC lawmakers have filed a notice of discontinuance on a suit they instituted at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The lawmakers had filed the suit against Fayose and others to challenge the purported impeachment of Omirin as speaker, and the running of the House by only the seven members of the House who are members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
All the 19 lawmakers signed the notice of discontinuance, which was dated April 7, 2015.
The notice read: “Take notice that the plaintiffs doth hereby wholly discontinue Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1823/14 against all the defendants.”